Reincarnation Plane I (Warning: Sensitive Reading)

Be free from the thought of selfishness—

We have to go through the casting off of that physical thought. Personal selfishness is one of the tendencies to be curbed and the Court of Justice judges it very severely.

When Lord Kitchener* arrives at the plane of reincarnation, together with King Edward, the first thing he sees is a large pit in which many men are standing, each holding up his hands and begging for assistance. He listens to them, wondering—

Why are they there? he asks King Edward.

King Edward shakes his head, smiling wistfully. They do not need to be there. They refused to do the right thing.

What do you mean?

They wish to do what they think best. They are selfish; they want the best of everything and do not want anyone else to have anything. Through that thought they have limited their own resources and are prisoners of selfish thoughts.They will stay there until, of their own accord, they come to a realisation of the truth. Kitchener, people can be a little selfish upon the earth, but when they come here, their selfish motives surround them. They are swamped, practically good for nothing, with no chance of doing anything unless they gain freedom by their own thoughts. These men have been selfish. But it is not only men who show that characteristic. There is no creed, doctrine, or truth, which claims that selfishness belongs to one sex. Selfishness is personal. It does not belong to one sex or type of being. Here we find that selfishness is common to all.

Those men are begging you to help them out of that inconvenient place, but if they were out they would be as selfish as ever. They would pull you down with them, if they could, merely to step upon you. Do not misunderstand me. I only want to explain to you. Far be it from me to judge or have any personal grudge against them. Their selfishness is a sad state. I would help every one of them if it would do any good, but it is the law of the astral that the selfish have to overcome personal thoughts by themselves and to take on the cloak of brotherhood with the gentle calmness of the great peace, which the Master sends. Come, do not look upon them any longer. You will only encourage in them the thought of freedom through someone else. They would not progress if you did help them; besides it is against the law of the astral. Come Kitchener!

Lord Kitchener moves; his eyes leave the pleading ones in the vast pit, which seem thousands of feet below.

How is it they do not die of hunger, or—well—

King Edward turns to him. Is that a physical thought, Kitchener? How am I to take that question? I do not quite understand.

Lord Kitchener reflects a moment. Well, in a way it is a physical thought. I mean, are they like most beings who come here craving for the physical—for rest, for meals, and freedom to do as they please?

They do rest; they have food; they enjoy in general the things we do; only they are not allowed to impose upon anyone selfishly. You see the ring they are in. It is a symbolic representation of the everlasting ring of eternity, and while within that they are protected from the Black Circle and also are kept from being selfish and bringing trouble to others.

The Message—Lord Kitchener Lives (received by Ala Mana), Volume I, Grafton Publishing Corporation, California, 1922