"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes, or thorns, or
figs, or thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit: but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree
bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into
the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." — Matthew 7:15-20
No matter what person we may be considering, the best criterion obtainable
in regard to his character is that given in the beautifully simple, direct
words of the Christ: "By their fruits ye shall know them." The truly
spiritual person may be identified by the purity of his life — by his actions
of kindness, humility, and helpfulness. The less developed also manifest
their "fruits" in kind: greed, cruelty, selfishness, and gossip.
We should apply this same "measuring rod" to the self-styled prophets
and teachers who appear before the public and exhort their listeners to
follow a certain teaching.
Concerning spiritual teachers, Max Heindel has given some very definite
information as to the kind of "fruits" they should bear:
The higher we climb, either by evolution or Initiation, the clearer we see
the Light, which is God, shining at the top; the more we are strengthened
thereby, the better we are filled to walk or climb alone. Therefore, after a
time it is unnecessary to have Masters to help us, and their place is then by
the Elder Brothers, known in the West as friends and advisers.
The Elder Brothers of the Rose Cross aim to emancipate the Egos who come
to them; to educate, to strengthen, and to make them co-workers. They never
urge, never praise, and never blame. The urge must come from within the
pupil, and they teach him to judge himself. In every respect they educate
him to stand upon his own feet without leaning upon them or anyone else, for
the higher we attain, the greater would be the disaster of a fall. Only as
we cultivate equipoise and self-reliance, coupled with spiritual integrity
and zeal of devotion, are we fitted to go on.
Anyone who professes to be a Teacher must be able to substantiate his
claim by using the Jupiter Period consciousness, for the true Teachers, the
Elder Brothers, who now are preparing the conditions of evolution which are
to obtain during the Jupiter Period, all have the consciousness pertaining
to that Period. Thus they naturally and without effort project pictures upon
the consciousness of those whom they are addressing and thereby at once give
evidence of their identity. Only they are able to guide others with safety,
but they do not function as individual teachers. No truly highly evolved
teacher could afford to give his time and energy to the instruction of a
single pupil. Such highly evolved beings as the Elder Brothers of the
Rosicrucian Order have other and more important things to attend to, and
even the lay brothers who have been initiated by them are not allowed to
bother them for small and unimportant matters.
This web page has been edited and/or excerpted from reference material, has been modified from it's original version, and is in conformance with the web host's Members Terms & Conditions. This website is offered to the public by students of The Rosicrucian Teachings, and has no official affiliation with any organization.
