Rebuilding the Shrine of Human Living
At first glance, it might sound like a misnomer to designate the Earth as “the shrine
of human living.” What is so sacred about what humanity has done to itself, say, over
the past two hundred years? Or the past two thousand years, for that matter? It has been
a period of brutal warfare and cruelty. Yet, in stark contrast, outstanding spiritual
visionaries from all walks of life have come and gone, leaving a legacy of beauty.
Their inspired work has helped to awaken human consciousness to a higher ethos and a
way of living. With all that has happened both profound and profane, why is the Earth
a “shrine” that must be rebuilt?
A shrine is defined as “a case, a box or receptacle for sacred relics. A place hallowed
from its associations.” In other words, a place made holy or sacred by its past history;
a place where human life was lifted up and redeemed; a place where life has triumphed
over death.
We are told in the writings of Alice Bailey that the Earth is not yet a sacred planet,
but that it will be so in the distant future. Other planets in this solar system have already
achieved this status. So, from the standpoint of our planetary Logos or Creator, we are
still a ‘work in progress.’ We are slowly building upon the foundations of the
past a new sacred Temple that will eventually be as divinely expressive as all the
other sacred planets. This is, in the final analysis, the great Plan of God. And it is
incumbent upon humanity, and its major responsibility, to build this sacred Shrine.
The remainder of the above quote on “the shrine of human living” reads:
“…to reconstructing
the form of humanity's life, to reconstituting the new civilisation upon the foundations
of the old, and to the reorganising of the structures of world thought, world politics,
plus the redistribution of the world's resources in conformity to divine purpose. Then
and only then will it be possible to carry the revelation further” (Alice Bailey).
Humanity's immediate objective, therefore, involves rebuilding, reconstructing,
reconstituting, reorganising and redistributing. To fulfill these objectives, humanity
must express more sensitivity to divine purpose and make the world a more sacred,
integrated and unified place than it was in the past.
Since the middle of the 20th century much new building and reconstructing has
taken place. The founding of the United Nations reflects a greater universalisation of
political thought. It is demonstrated also in the willingness to form the European Union.
International trade
agreements, while not perfect, reflect a new thinking in world trade and economics. Human
consciousness has become much more universally responsive due to the ease of travel, to
television and to the internet. There is a definite increase in the willingness—the
present Middle East conflict notwithstanding—of individuals, corporations and nations to
share, co-operate and serve—reflecting the initial impulse of the newly emerging Aquarian
spirit. That spirit is the note of universal, group service. As this impulse takes hold
in human consciousness, the next two thousand years will see the Shrine take on a new
splendour, revealing, eventually, a closer association with the Will of God.
|
