A WORD TO THE WISE

is the very opposite of its elders in that respect. It is not filled with an overwhelming sense of superior knowledge, nor does it feel compelled to look wise or to hide its ignorance original: "nescience" of any subject with a smile or a sneer. It is frankly ignorant, unfettered by preconceived opinions, and therefore eminently teachable. It accepts everything with that beautiful attitude of trust which we have designated "child-like faith," wherein there is not the shadow of a doubt. In that state, the child holds the teaching it receives until it is proven or disproven.

In all occult In this context, "occult" refers to hidden or esoteric spiritual knowledge rather than anything sinister. schools, the pupil is first taught to forget everything else when a new teaching is being given. They are taught to allow neither preference nor prejudice to govern them, but to keep the mind in a state of calm, dignified waiting. Just as skepticism will blind us to truth in the most effective manner, so this calm, trustful attitude of the mind will allow the intuition—or "teaching from within"—to become aware of the truth contained in the proposition. That is the only way to cultivate an absolutely certain perception of truth.

The pupil is not required to believe immediately original: "off-hand" that a given object which he has observed to be white is really black, even when such a statement is made to him. However, he must cultivate an attitude of mind which "believes all things" A reference to 1 Corinthians 13:7. are possible. That will allow him to set aside for the time being even what are generally considered "established facts" and investigate if, by chance, there is another viewpoint previously unobserved by him from which the object referred to would appear black. Indeed, he would not allow himself to look upon anything as "an established fact," for he realizes thoroughly the importance of keeping his mind in the fluid state of adaptability that characterizes the little child. He realizes in every fiber of his being that "now we see through a glass, darkly," original: "videmus nunc per speculum in aenigmate" (1 Corinthians 13:12), meaning our current understanding of spiritual truth is obscured or reflected indirectly. and