Release from Separatism and Pride, by Rev. Howard Ray Carey, Share International Archives

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Release from separatism and pride
by Rev. Howard Ray Carey

How often we hear remarks like: ''I'm so proud of you,'' ''I'm proud of my country,'' ''You did us proud,'' and the like. Perhaps we do not realize how separative and dangerous such attitudes are, especially on the part of mature persons, and particularly for aspirants and disciples.

Let us concede that for developing personalities, such as children, pride may have a place. Indeed a sense of pride in accomplishment seems to play a part in the development of self-confidence ---- the building of self-esteem among youngsters. The eleven-year-old or the thirteen-year-old proudly exults in hitting a home run in baseball, or in being at the head of her/his class in school. Such expressions of pride do seem to have some value at these early levels of growth, and possibly among adults who have not reached emotional maturity.

How sad it is, however, when we as aspirants, and especially as disciples, seem not to have outgrown such juvenile and prideful habits. A wise writer warned us long ago that, ''Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.'' (Proverbs 16:18)

We may well ask, what is the nature of that destruction? On one level it may be mainly physical, as when an individual's proud boasting is experienced as a physical assault conveying the message: ''I'll show you. Take this and this and this. Let this teach you a little humility.'' But on inner, subtle levels our pride brings destruction of a more serious nature. For it is an exact prescription for tearing down and eradicating our realization of universal brotherhood ---- our sense of oneness with all that is. What could be more destructive than that?

At first glance it might seem that pride and separativeness are twin enemies, set against us on our path to self realization (which is, of course, realization of oneness with all). But probably it would be more accurate to say that separativeness is the parent and pride the offspring. The Ageless Wisdom teachers confirm this, affirming that eventually we will see that separativeness is the only 'sin', in the sense that it gives birth to all the other wrongs which afflict humanity.

As the Master DK tells us through Alice A. Bailey: ''If you were to ask me what, in reality, lies behind all disease, all frustrations, error and lack of divine expression in the three worlds, I would say that it is separativeness which produces the major difficulties.'' (Esoteric Healing, p. 82) On page 546 of the same treatise He says practically the same thing: ''Evil, crime, and disease are the result of the great heresy of separateness.'' To quote a more recent pronouncement, we find Maitreya, speaking through Benjamin Creme, telling us:

‘‘The crime of separation, of division, of lawlessness must go from the world. All that hinders the manifestation of man’s divinity must be driven from our planet. My Law will take the place of separation. My Law is the Law of Love, of Brotherhood, of Justice and Truth... My Law will succeed, for the Law of Love emerges from the Being of God, and thus cannot fail.’’

And in Message No. 117 He admonishes us to do our part: ‘‘Remove forever the curse of separation, of loneliness and fear. Take heed, My friends, and do this, do this now.’’ It will become obvious to us, then, that when we overcome this 'heresy of separateness' we will be free from pride. For what basis could there possibly be for pride when we come to realize that we are at one with all that is? That each of us is one cell in the body of reality. A concomitant dividend accruing from overcoming separativeness is this: that we thereby free ourselves also from the converse side of pride ---- that which rears its ugly head in the form of feelings of inferiority, lack of self-esteem, and the like. This is the 'poor weak worm of the dust' idea which arises in some expressions of religion. Such feelings and ideas are no more possible than is pride when we realize the oneness of all. What a deliverance!

It behooves us, then, to pay heed to the wise teaching that the cultivation and expression of real love and wisdom provide us with the solution to our problems and the true fulfillment of our needs. The means to accomplish this release from feelings of pride as well as of inferiority ---- both of which tend to play hide and seek with us ---- are clearly spelled out for us in the teachings of the Spiritual Hierarchy. These teachings emphasize self-discipline, meditation (with study and contemplation on our own innate divinity), following the path of service, cultivating goodwill to all, and the practice of sharing, with love.

When we hold our focus on the realization that we are innately divine ---- one with God, one with Christ, and one with all ---- then we come to know that we can accomplish all this. To strengthen our assurance let us conclude with two more quotations from Maitreya: ‘‘I shall create among you a pool of Love from whose waters all may quench their thirst... I shall remove from your hearts the fear of death, the fear of life itself, the fear of your brother and yourself. I shall help you put behind you that ignorance, and to walk with Me in the new Light.'' (Message No. 123)

‘‘My Plans shall not fail... My Will shall strengthen. My Teaching shall show you the nature of God... Take My hand, My friends, and let Me lead you over the river. Let Me guide you over the narrow bridge. Let Me show you the beauty which rests on the other side. That beauty, My friends, is your true Self. Help Me, My friends, to help you, and together let us transform the world.'' (Message No. 130)

This article is a chapter from The Joy of Christ's Coming. This book by the late Rev. Howard Ray Carey was published by Share International Foundation in 1988. It is not currently available in hard copy form. Copyright © Share International Foundation. Biblical quotations are taken from the Revised Standard version unless otherwise indicated.

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First published April 1999, Last modified: 15-Oct-2005