The Divine Mirror

The Divine Mirror

From our friend, Charles R.

Perhaps you remember we wrote about A, B and C influences. A influence relates to basic needs, for example food, shelter, security, money, prestige, sex, family and so on. Everything that every human being needs or desires. B influence originated as C influence, that is, it is conscious in origin, but over time is mixed with A influence and becomes diluted. It appears as religions, traditions, healing arts, martial arts and esotericism; each of these may point towards the possibility of a higher mode of existence, but they ceased being C Influence when they lost direct connection to a conscious source. Some works of art or sacred music, texts, books, poetry may be B influence. C Influence is conscious in its source and transmission. Peter Ouspensky stated that no work can be done in sleep. Likewise, no teaching can be transmitted in sleep. Therefore, C Influence must be received from a conscious source, that is, from a conscious teacher.

How does the teacher teach or transmit consciousness? One method the teacher employs is being a mirror for his students. The teacher will mirror the student’s lower self, and in this way the student may see his own lower self and recognize it for what it is. The teacher will mirror the student’s higher Self and in this way the student recognizes his own soul for what it is. The thirteenth century Tibetan image captures this intimate relationship between teacher and student.

The teacher is an island of conscious love and presence within the enriched environment of school. He continually points the way to the third state. The students themselves however, must make the necessary efforts to introduce and prolong presence. In his book, The Fourth Way, Ouspensky recounts when one of his students remarked, “I feel like I’m learning how to behave,” to which Ouspensky replied, “Yes, that’s right.” Thus, the teacher instructs us how to be-have, that is, how to have being.

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Teacher & Pupil, 13th Century Tibetan