Page 21 - Gnosis volume 2

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III

Let us recapitulate what was stated before in order to sort out our ideas.
1. The final goal that man can hope to attain by esoteric work, is to arrive at the

second Birth, and thus, to conquer Death. This goal is defined clearly in the Gospel, and

enlarged upon in the Tradition and in the Doctrine. It is Salvation.

2. Apart from a few rare exceptions, the student can attain this goal only by

methodical and assiduous work. The requisite sum of conscious efforts is in proportion
to the degree of the degeneration of the Personality. It is a big sum, usually, much

bigger, for example, than that furnished by the student when he progresses from

elementary school right through to the successful achievement of a thesis for a Doctor's
degree.

3. The special feature of these efforts - as stated already in volume I, and even more

clearly in the present one — resides in the fact that all the work the student carries out

on himself is aimed at the awakening of his emotional functions, which are profoundly
dormant generally, and even more so in the intellectuals of our day. This awakening, this

flame, is an essential prerequisite, and the starting point on the road to success: one

must burn in order to progress. Glimmering coals covered by ashes will not suffice.

A special technique is suggested to students who wish to revive and fan the feeble
flames of a fire that manifests a tendency to die out.