By Cyrus Ryan
Notes on the Esoteric Group Work
In the teachings of the Master DK as given out in the books of AAB, there is a strong focus on the need for students to achieve soul alignment, becoming a soul infused personality, where the purified, transformed personality has become passive(yin/negative) and the essence/soul has become active(yang/positive). His next focus is on the Group Work. He presents an ideal where active group members step outside of their personalities, becoming fused to soul purpose with the other group members in their work of service to humanity. The fusion of group members on Soul levels, on the inner planes comes about in time where the group members work together achieving a focused, sincere dedication to group service, shared disciplines in occult meditation, and an impersonal love between group members. This can only be achieved by relinquishing the ever-flowing dramas of ripening karmas that normally thrust many potentially successful group efforts into chaos, eventually causing the group to dissolve. Overcoming the need to express negative emotions between or at other group members is very difficult to achieve, but is so necessary. Thus, the Master DK also points out the need to awaken the inner realization of ‘ahimsa’ or harmlessness, becoming conscious of the words that come out of your mouth, especially in the group environment.
Master DK paints an uplifting picture, building an ideal thought-form of the Group Work. This awakens potential disciples to feel their inner aspiration to align themselves to the ‘need of our times’ to want to enter this noble effort of the Group Work. Many aspirants desire to, but how many actually enter into a real Group Work?
A real Group Work requires an advanced accepted disciple to lead the group, and who is already aligned to their soul and the inner ashram of a particular Master. Where there’s more than one accepted disciple in a group effort then the group expression on the physical plane more truly mirrors the inner ashram of the Masters. A true group is hierarchical, and has layers based on the spiritual levels of its members. This follows the law of the occult work and the spiritual Hierarchy. The relation between the Master, the inner ashram, the advanced disciples on the physical plane, and the probationers in the group, constitute what ancient Hermetics called, ‘the Golden Chain of Hermes’, while in the Brahmanical esoteric tradition it is called, ‘the Guru Parampara’, and the ‘whispered lineage’ of the Vajrayana Buddhist.
When this is the case, the group itself becomes magnetic, attracting other advanced disciples. The group grows slowly based on karmic affiliations, expanding its occult service, esoteric knowledge, and building a form, an outward expression, for the future of the Group Work.
Part 2 – Notes on the Advanced Esoteric Group Work
The advanced group work occurs when the doorway to the Hierarchy has opened. We are now coming to a new cycle in the expression of the esoteric work as it plays out on the physical plane. I struggle with a great deal of knowledge, and as my teacher RN used to say, “we’ve gone too far”, meaning we’ve entered too deep into the esoteric world, what is lawful to share outside of the ashram? If too much is told, then it may dissuade others from pursing the group work and achieving deeper levels. Also, with greater knowledge comes greater responsibility. This means, once you begin to grasp a greater truth with your inner being, then you have a responsibility to apply that knowledge correctly. If knowledge is misused then it impacts on the group, both physical and non-physical, or out of incarnation, that you are associated with. It also reinforces any negative past life associations one may have. Those on the occult path run much greater risks than those following some yoga or Buddhist path. The occult path, especially if you come under the influence of some Master of Wisdom is an accelerated path, thus the risks are greater. Fortunately, most aspirants do not break through the secret door and thus do not see their negative associations from past lives. But more and more aspirants are sincerely wishing to make greater progress, yearning for greater knowledge. Having an esoteric group on the physical plane has many advantages that outweighs the negative repercussions that result when soul fusion becomes real. This is not written about in any esoteric books, anywhere. Being aligned to the inner ashram intensifies the impact of higher energies on one’s bodies (physical, etheric, astral, lower mind or kama-manas). If these higher energies are leaked out from one’s Essential Nature, the soul in-incarnation, the energy converts into forces that then impact on various personality characteristics inflaming them. That’s why the occult is full of examples of supposedly advanced disciples all of a sudden going haywire, becoming negative, full of self-aggrandizement, and even abusive. The Master DK was very aware of this aspect of advanced group work on the physical plane; thus, his groups were based on correspondence, which eliminated this problem. Today, groups that are linked online reduce this risk, but not entirely, since the electromagnetic fields created by computers create a medium to transfer these forces instantly.
An advanced teacher of the esoteric group work becomes the focal point for the flow of the higher forces to the group members. Added to that, the teacher holds the group together on the mental plane and takes on a degree of each members karma. A real teacher has a great responsibility as they, in a certain way, have the soul progress of each group member under their watchful eye. This is where the impersonal love the Master DK talks about becomes a major factor in the group work. Because of this fact, the teacher is impacted by any student who falls out of the light, even for short periods. In some cases when this happens, the impact can affect other advanced members in the group. The Master Serapis mentions this in an old occult book called, The Wheel of Rebirth by HK Challoner. She had a small occult group in the 1920/30’s with some prominent students at that time in England. They used to meditate together at a small cottage by the ocean. I usually use this book for newer members to the group. The important part of the book is when, the ‘teacher speaks’. Its not said that it’s the Master Serapis but in time it became apparent. In this story, the Master is waiting for his disciple for 2500 years since when they first met in ancient Egypt. She was on the left-hand path, and it took that long for her to re-orient herself onto the right-hand path. She underwent many lives of suffering, and yet there was some aspect within her that was always aspiring in some way.
Real understanding about what is left-hand path only comes later on the path. What the Master DK tells in his teaching is only a basic outline, pointing out the selfishness aspect of those on the left-hand path, not how It works out in many aspirants when they make a certain progress. The group work is challenging, uplifting, and fulfilling. The occult mysteries unfold as you make progress in building the antahkarana, purifying your bodies, and surrendering to your destined soul service in the Group Work.
