The Code of Life for Mystics and Spiritual beings of all creeds

"No one can give a definition of the soul. But we know what it feels like. The soul is the sense of something higher than ourselves, something that stirs in us thoughts, hopes, and aspirations which go out to the world of goodness, truth and beauty. The soul is a burning desire to breathe in this world of light and never to lose it--to remain children of light."
~Albert Schweitzer

The Code of Life
(Adapted for Mystics and Spiritual beings of all creeds)
by Dr. Harvey Spencer Lewis

Upon arising in the morning start the day with a prayer of thankfulness to God for the return of consciousness, because of the opportunities it affords to continue the Great Work and Mission of your life. Face the geographical East, inhale fresh air with seven deep breaths, and exhale then slowly with mind concentrated upon the vitality going to each part of the body to awaken the psychic centers. Then bathe, and drink a glass of cold water before eating.

Upon retiring, and after conducting all psychic experiments scheduled for the night, or attending to any special psychic or Mystical work contained in your studies. Give thanks to God for the day and its fruits; ask the Cosmic Hosts to accept your psychic services while you sleep, to use your consciousness as they desire, and, if it pleases God and the Masters to have you live another day on earth, So Mote It Be! Then with thoughts of love for all living beings, and a sense of Peace and Harmony with the entire universe, close your eyes and fall asleep, visualizing your inner self in the consciousness of God.

Before each meal wash your hands clean and hold them, palms downward, over the plate of food for a fraction of a minute, then mentally pray that the benediction of God be granted to the food you eat that it may be magnetized with the spiritual radiations from your hands, and thus greatly supply the needs of the body. Then, before eating the first morsel, say, mentally: "May all who need food share with me what I enjoy, and may God show me how I may share with others what they have not." (It is important to understand that while we may not be able to share the substance of the food, we can share the spiritual nutrient that comes with it).

Before accepting any blessing from the material world (whether purchased by money, labor, or exchange or whether received as a gift), say, mentally: "By the privilege of God I receive this and pray that it may help me better to fulfill my mission in life." This applies even to such things as clothing, personal requisites, periods of pleasure at the theater, church, musicals, etc., or even to such small things as books, helpful reading matter, etc., and of course includes the receipt of money as salary, commission, gifts, or otherwise.

Whenever any special blessing is received, such as long desired things from the material world of any nature, or a small or large luxury, or an unexpected piece of goodness, do not use or apply it to your personal use in any way until you have retired to the silence somewhere for a few minutes to meditate and ask this question: "Have I truly deserved this blessing and is there any way in which I can share the benefit of it--directly or indirectly--with others or for the benefit of man?" Then wait for an answer from the Cosmic. If you receive no word that it is undeserved or should be shared, or passed on to another, then say: "I thank God, the Cosmic, and the Masters for this blessing: May I use it to the glory of my Soul."

If any special honor--military, governmental, political, social, or otherwise--is being conferred upon you, always act with the utmost humility, proclaim your unworthiness (for who is truly worthy of all things?) and with a mental resolution that it must not make you proud or selfish, accept the blessing with a prayer of thankfulness and assert that, in the name of those whom you can serve better such blessing, you receive it.

If, in giving testimony, in court or elsewhere, you are asked to take an oath, or swear or promise upon some sacred book or emblem, bear in mind that you can select the book or emblem you prefer. (In most courts of the world individual selection of such sacred symbol for such purpose is permissible.) Then say as a Mystic you prefer to make your statement over another symbol or book that is sacred to you. Remember that if an untruth is knowingly stated at such time it will create a Karmic condition that can never be set aside except by the fullest compensation, according to the Law of Compensation.

Never permit yourself to enter discussions of other persons' religious beliefs, except to point out the soundness, goodness, or possible benefits of certain doctrines and thereby show them the good that exists in all religions. Hold not your religious thoughts as superior. Speak well of them if need be, point out how they serve you, but do not create in the minds of others the thought that they are in sin or error because of their beliefs. That religion is best for each which enables one to understand God and God's mysterious ways.

Be tolerant on all subjects and bear in mind that destructive criticism creates naught but sorrow. Unless you can constructively comment on matters, refrain from speaking.

Attempt no direct reforms in the lives of others. Discover in yourself what needs correction and improve yourself, that by the Light of your Life you may point the way to others.

Flaunt not your attainments, nor boast of your Mystical knowledge. You may be a Mystic, but as a Mystic in knowledge and power, the greatest and highest among us is but a child of the studies and unworthy of Mystical recognition. Proclaim yourself, not as a Master, but as Mystic student--ever a student--eternally.

Seek to share what you can spare, daily, even if in small ways and meager amounts. Go out of your way to find where that which you can give or do will be a blessing to someone or many, and while performing this duty shun all personal glory and let it be known that you are simply "about the Masters' work."

Accept no personal thanks for any blessing you bestow, any gift, or any help you render. When "thanks" are expressed it is customary to say: "Please thank me not, for it is I who am grateful. I seek, and must seek, to serve and labor for the Masters; you have afforded me an opportunity. But now the obligation to pass it on rests with you; may you, too, find an opportunity to serve someone else,"--or any other words indicative of this spirit.

Accept no gifts of a material nature for any good you do unless you agree with yourself in the moment of accepting it, and so state to the giver, that you will divide the blessing with someone where it will continue to carry on its mission of relief and help. This is essentially necessary when the material gift is of such a nature--like money, food, clothing, etc.--that it can be divided and is a common necessity on the part of many.

Bear in mind that through your Path in Mysticism you always have an open portal to help many, and that by sharing with them any blessings you pass on to others, who are Brothers and Sisters of your Spiritual Path in Mysticism who may need the blessings which come to you, perhaps as a trustee of the Cosmic.

As you give so shall you receive! As each opportunity to give is seized upon with the utmost impulsiveness, so will future blessings, sought or required, be granted to you by the Cosmic. The greater the impulsiveness--with little thought as to personal sacrifice--the greater will be the compensation credited in the Cosmic.

Let not a day pass by without speaking to someone of the work of the Masters through the portal of your path in Mysticism. Each day make someone more familiar with its Great Work, not always by soliciting, not by preachments, but by simple statements of facts, simple demonstrations, and the kind word of recommendation.

Respect all women, honor thy father and mother; be sympathetic to the sinful, helping to the afflicted, and of service to the Masters. He is greatest among you who are the greatest servant unto all.

Provide now, while consciousness can assist you, to take care of those who may be dependent after transition; and if you have no one who will require a share of your earthly possessions after your transition--or you have sufficient to more than do for them--be certain that you grant, in proper and legal manner, a disposition of some of your worldly blessings to the a worthwhile charity of your choice, preferably a Spiritual non-profit organization.

Go to the assistance of any living being, regardless of race, creed, or color, when you can render direct or indirect aid in any emergency; if you cannot give aid in person, but can call or solicit aid, this, too, is imperative; in quiet and peace perform your work, render your service, and retire with as little recognition as possible.

Declaration of Interdependency

Maintain one place in your home that is sacred to you. In it find Peace and time for meditation daily. Profane it not with pleasures of the flesh, but sanctify it with your higher thoughts.

Give your support, moral or physical, to some church in your community, that it may have your help in carrying on the great work in the Light.

Assume no political office without properly and duly notifying all who may sponsor or support your attainment of your definite views and principles toward humanity at large, that they may not expect or depend upon your submission of a lesser degree.

Judge not, unless you are so placed that those to be judged come legally and formally before you as a accredited servant of the multitude; then in sympathy understand, in mercy comprehend, in leniency estimate, and with love be fair. For the Law of Compensation will make adequate demands, and the God of all is alone a truly competent Judge of all facts.

Repeat no slander, tell no tales, and support no reports that injure or condemn unless accompanied by more than the same degree of constructive criticism and comment, and you have completely investigated and learned all the facts.

Seek the good in all things and give public praise to what you find. Look not upon the changing character of the outer self, but discover the real self within. Learn to know all beings and love them.

Gamble not with the lot of another who in ignorance may lose and suffer what you gain.

Avoid all extremes in thought and act; be moderate in all desires, and subdue your passions in all directions.

Attempt no radical or sudden change in the natural scheme of things; remember the Mystical injunction: Not by revolution, but through evolution, are all things accomplished in permanency.

Hold sacred and above all criticism the ideals of Mysticism; permit no slander to affect the good name of our practice; live that life which will prove the goodness of your principles; and be ready to defend the emblems of the Rosy Cross and other Sacred symbols, with the might of your life and the light of your being.

Dr. Harvey Spencer Lewis
Adapted from the Rosicrucian precepts and ways of Life.

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