This time we will be reading a very long quote from
Teachings of Silver Birch.
I have chosen it, because I believe in it exists the quintessence of Silver Birch’s mission, to spread spiritual truth on earth. We will be reading about a “great secret,” which had not yet been revealed to human beings on earth.
Regardless of who we are, what we do, and what our beliefs are, Silver Birch asks for no preconditions when he speaks. That which stands between his message and us, is whether or not we are able to accept the message. There is nothing else.
To those who wish to know the true purpose of life, and to make the most of this lifetime on earth, to continue on their journey with great assurance and confidence, I strongly recommend, regardless of your age, to read the quote again and again.
You must not be satisfied after reading only several times, as that merely provides a superficial knowledge. For true understanding, peruse until the essence of the message becomes a part of yourself.
Silver Birch has told of a “great secret” that has not yet been learned in the material world:
The Great Spirit is infinite, and you are parts of the Great Spirit. If you have perfect faith and live your lives right, then you are able to participate in the bounty of the Great Spirit.
If every person in your world had perfect faith, then he would receive. If a person were hungry and yet had perfect faith, then he would receive the answer.
That is how the Law operates. If you learn to attune yourselves to the Law, the results must come. If the results do not come, that only proves that you are not in tune with the Law. Your history books tell you that there have been those from the lowest of the low, the poorest of the poor, who have tried the Law—and it has not failed them.
You must not point to those who do not try it and ask why it does not work.
Sometimes the spirit gets crushed and cannot rise above the surrounding circumstances, but if you had perfect faith you could rise above all the troubles of your world. You would turn your faces to the sun, which is but an emblem of the Great Spirit, and say: “I am a part of the Great Spirit. I am indestructible. I am eternal. I am infinite. That which is finite and part of the world of matter cannot touch me.” If you did that, you would not be touched.
Many people start with fear in their hearts. They are afraid they will not get results, and the element of fear disturbs the vibration. Perfect love casteth out fear! Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you!
That was taught to you many years ago by one who knew the Law. He showed that when he put it into operation the results were always forthcoming. If you allow the Law to function, then the results must come.
I will tell you another Law. There is nothing you can have in the world of matter without you pay the price. The price of mediumship is increased sensitiveness.
You cannot accumulate wealth without paying the price because if you do that, and forget the duties of your own spirit, then you may be rich in the goods of your world, but you will be very poor in my world.
You have the greatest riches within yourselves. You are part of the Great Spirit.
There are no riches or fortunes in your world that can be compared with that. We seek to teach you to explore your own gold mines, to reveal the diamonds of the spirit that are within the clay of your own natures.
May you all learn to respond to vibrations of the highest planes of spirit. May you all realize that you are never alone, but always encompassed around and about by a host of those who love you, who seek to guard and guide you and to help and inspire you. And may you, as you unfold your own spirits, realize that you are being drawn closer to the greatest Spirit of all, becoming more in unison with His Law.
You serve Him by serving the children of matter. When you do that, you are within reach of His infinite arms, you are surrounded by His love, which will bring you to perfect peace.
Faith that is faith alone sometimes fails when the winds of bitter experience blow. But the faith that is born of knowledge provides a foundation which is so strong that no wind of circumstance can disturb it.
Blessed are those who believe and have not yet seen, but thrice blessed are they who know and, because they know, place their faith in that which is not yet revealed to them, because they know that the laws of the universe are operated by a power which is love and wisdom.
You should all have perfect faith, because it is a faith born of knowledge. You have had the proof of the power of the Spirit. Now you should have the faith that all things work wisely and well and that, if you put yourselves in tune with the laws of the Great Spirit, then you must reap the operation of those laws.
You can all banish from your minds the thought that anything that is unenlightened—or, as you would say, evil—can ever touch you. You live and move under the protection of the Great Spirit and His laws.
If there is no evil in your hearts, then only good can reach you, for only good can dwell where goodness reigns. None but the servants of the Great Spirit come into your presence from my world. You need have no fears. The power which envelops you, the power which supports and seeks to guide you and inspire you, is the power that emanates from the Great Spirit of all.
That power can sustain you in all your trials and difficulties. That power can change your storms into sunshine, and bring you out of the darkness of despair into the light of knowledge. Your feet are set on pathways of progress. There is no need for fear.
Perfect love casteth out fear. Knowledge dispels fear, for fear is born of ignorance. Where there is love and trust and knowledge, there fear cannot reign. An evolved spirit cannot be afraid at any time, because he knows there is no experience that can come to him in any phase of life that he cannot master, for he is the Great Spirit.
Fear creates its own prison for the soul. You must learn to rise above fear and not to allow its vibrations to hinder you, to have perfect faith and confidence and trust, to know that you can stand on your feet and say: “I am the Great Spirit and the wind of circumstance cannot shake me. I will rise triumphant over every difficulty because of the infinite power which is within my soul.” You have power over every circumstance. Would you limit the power of the infinite soul?
The Great Spirit rules over that which is material and that which is spiritual. There are no divisions in His universal kingdom. Do not attempt to divide the life of matter from the life of spirit. They are not distinct and separate. They are parts of one indivisible life, for the things of matter react on the things of spirit and the things of spirit react on the things of matter.
You have yet to learn that there are no difficulties which beset those blessed with the power of the spirit that they will not surmount, as long as they in return serve the Great White Spirit wherever they go.
There are no obstacles in your world we cannot remove, if it is the law that they shall be removed. If, sometimes, the cross you have seemed very hard to bear, remember that, although I would give up all my progress to take it away from you, it is better for you to carry it and to learn the lesson it brings. You must consider not only this life, but the whole of eternity.
If you children of matter would but remember that not only are you human, but also divine, how much easier would it be for you to live your lives.
Your troubles would melt away, your obstacles would be swept on one side. But you have little faith in the power that is within you. What you call human belongs to the world of matter. That which is divine belongs to the Great Spirit.
Many years ago, you were told to be in the world, but not of the world. Because the people of your world have not the faith, then the Law cannot be put into operation. You say one has more money and less worry than another. You do not know how their worries compare. The laws of the Great Spirit cannot be cheated.
You are on earth to build your characters. It is the way you face your problems that makes your character. But there is no trouble in your world of matter which is greater than the power you have within you for overcoming it, because the troubles are of the earth, material, and you are part of the Great Spirit, divine.
There is only one peace—the peace which comes to those who are at one with the Great spirit, whose hearts beat as one with His great heart, whose wills are at one with His great will, who are at one in soul, mind and heart with the Great Spirit.
Then there is peace, because they are in harmony with His laws. There is no other peace.
I can only teach you the laws. You were told many years ago that the kingdom of heaven is within. It is not without. It is not to be found in the rush of the world of matter. It is to be found within the soul.
So finely balanced and so perfect is the Law that there can be no cheating. Not one person escapes his punishment, and not one loses his reward. Do not judge eternity with the eyes of matter. Do not judge the smaller when you have not seen the greater.
Do not confuse the transient joys of earth with the enduring things of the spirit.
They are tawdry and flimsy. You think in terms of the earth, while I see with the eyes of the spirit. I cannot alter the Law to please you.
If you ask all those who return to you from my side, you will find that they all say the Law is perfect. They never want to return to the world of matter. You seek to find peace without. I try to show you the eternal peace within. The greatest riches are the riches of the spirit.
Some people will always worry. Even in the world of spirit they will worry. They will worry because they will realize they could be more perfect, because they are not perfect instruments for the Great Spirit, because only through toil and stress will they outwork the imperfections of their natures and allow the divine to shine through. (p.51-55
Teachings of Silver Birch)
In the quote, Silver Birch repeated some key words and key phrases multiple times.
He told us that, “You are (I am) a part of the Great Spirit” (also “I am (You are) the Great Spirit”) six times. He mentioned “perfect faith” six times, and “peace” six times again.
He spoke about the importance of life “in tune with the Laws of the Great Spirit,” five times. (He also phrased it as “becoming more unison with His Law,” “attune yourselves to the Law,” “in harmony with His Laws.”) We can see the importance of these words and phrases, in correctly understanding the spiritual knowledge.
We have spirit power within. It means we hold divinity (God, Great Spirit) within ourselves. Great Spirit manifests himself in the Law (providence); thus being “in tune with the Law (providence),” is to become one with God from within and without.
Summarizing the “great secret,” just revealed:
I. Conditions required for the Spiritual Law to function:
1. Your awareness that “You are part of the Great Spirit.” (p.52)
We have inner “power of the spirit,” hence energy of life (God), because within us there exist God (Great Spirit).
2. Suppress fear and banish anxiety, with your solid faith (trust) in God and His Law.
“You must learn to rise above fear and not to allow its vibrations to hinder you, to have perfect faith and confidence and trust.” (p.53)
3. Your correct understanding of the Spiritual Law; and your best efforts to harmonize your life with the Law.
“If you learn to attune yourselves to the Law, the results must come.” (p.51)
4. Your realization that you are never alone. You have many spirits around you, standing by to guard and guide you, to give you support, inspiration and encouragement. Train your receptivity, so that you can respond to the vibrations from the highest spheres of the spirit world. (p.52)
“You should all have perfect faith, because it is a faith born of knowledge. You have had the proof of the power of the spirit,” says Silver Birch (p.52-53)
However, learning the spiritual truth does not mean we instantly have “perfect faith.” Likewise, it is absolutely impossible for any of us to suddenly say with confidence, “I am God (Great Spirit).” As a proof, we have spiritual knowledge, but fear and anxiety still occupy our mind. We are learning, but because we have insufficient faith, it is not easy to alter our old habit of viewing things from the earthly perspectives.
Then, how shall we develop our spirituality, and have “perfect faith”?
Silver Birch gives us hints, in the same chapter.
II. For the spirituality to develop…
1. For the spirituality to develop, one must pay the price.
“There is nothing you can have in the world of matter without you pay the price.” (p.52)
In this world of matter, nothing will change, and we gain nothing, without working hard for it. No change without action, practice and hard work. It is the way of the physical world, maintained by the “law of cause and effect.”
2. How does spirituality develop?
i) “It is the way you settle your problems that develops what is within you. You do not develop the spirit when everything is easy and smooth, but when you have difficulties.” (p.56)
ii) “You are on earth to build your characters. It is the way you face your problems that makes your character.” (p.54)
iii) “ . . . because only through toil and stress will they outwork the imperfections of their natures and allow the divine to shine through.” (p.55)
3. And gradually, we attune better with the Law; we aim for “perfect faith.”
“And may you, as you unfold your own spirits, realize that you are being drawn closer to the greatest Spirit of all, becoming more in unison with His Law.” (p.52)
Our life on earth consists of trials, difficulties, sufferings, of all kinds. Each time, we refer back to the spiritual teachings, try to suppress worry and fear with active faith, and strive to attune (harmonize) ourselves with the Law. Little by little we move closer to “perfect faith” in God and His Law. It is a long journey of learning, which must involve real-life experiences to apply and practice the Law, followed by confirmation.
Let’s discuss further.
We do not seek for spiritual truth, if we are free of difficulties, trials and sufferings. Its teachings will not touch our hearts; and there will be no learning nor acquiring of the Law. Afterall, we do not reach for drinks when we are not thirsty.
However, Silver Birch demands us strongly, to discard any thoughts of fear, anxiety and alike, even in the midst of trials and sufferings. It is because such thoughts create an aura that interferes the inflow of spirit power from within and without, he explains.
Ordeals and difficulties are the prerequisites for attaining spiritual knowledge and spiritual progress, but we must have no fear, and no anxiety in the process. How do we manage this contradiction? And if things bring us no fear, no anxiety and no suffering, do we consider them trials and difficulties?
To solve the puzzle, once again we call for faith in the Law. Faith in the spiritual promise, and faith in the spirit guides, who give us constant protection, guidance and support.
In other words, through difficulty of life we practice active faith, and train ourselves for “perfect faith” in the Law. Being a spiritualist does not mean we escape causality, karma, and many other difficulties and sufferings of life. It is rather the other way around. Because we are spiritualists, the spirit world tries to guide us through bitterness and hardship, so we are able to acquire proper spiritual knowledge, essential for the spirituality to unfold and develop.
In spite of our weakness, immaturity, and how prone we are to err, we are never left all alone. There are no exceptions on this fact. Silver Birch made it known to us, that we are surrounded by a great number of spirits who love us, who seek to watch over, guide, and support.
Here is an important fact which is often overlooked: A life with solid belief in the spiritual promise; namely, to live one's life knowing and believing that, as long as we are “in tune with the Laws of the Great Spirit,” we would receive necessary support from the spirit world. It is, in itself, a “life in tune with the Law.” We must not forget that.
III. The eternal peace
List of Silver Birch’s words on “peace”:
“You seek to find peace without. I try to show you the eternal peace within.” (p.55)
“There is only one peace—the peace which comes to those who are at one with the Great spirit, whose hearts beat as one with His great heart, whose wills are at one with His great will, who are at one in soul, mind and heart with the Great Spirit.” (p.54-55)
“Then there is peace, because they are in harmony with His laws. There is no other peace.” (p.55)
“You serve Him by serving the children of matter. When you do that, you are within reach of His infinite arms, you are surrounded by His love, which will bring you to perfect peace.” (p.52)
Each one of us is a part of the Great Spirit (God); and we all have the Great Spirit within us. With this fact in mind, unify our will (soul and mind) with the Law, which is the will of the Great Spirit. By attuning one’s life to the Law, we become one with the Great Spirit; and the Law becomes our ally. Protected by the Law, we will find “perfect peace” within the soul, says Silver Birch.
Path of spiritual progress:
We read Silver Birch many times, but we quickly forget about the Spiritual Law and promises.
We collect spiritual knowledge through Silver Birch’s teachings. It remains a book knowledge.
Worry and anxiety never cease, because we continue to see the world through physical eyes.
We have the knowledge, but we are not using it. We are not practicing the Spiritual Law in our daily lives.
We have insufficient faith in God and His Law.
We properly learn the Spiritual Law, and strive to practice active faith, and to harmonize ourselves with the Law.
We gain repeated confirmation and proof of the Law and its righteousness.
We gradually progress toward “perfect faith” in the Law.
We feel unity with God and His Law. Surrounded by love, we find “perfect peace.”
Reference
Teachings of Silver Birch—edited by Austen, A.W., Edition 2010. The Spiritual Truth Press, 15 Broom Hall, Oxshott, Surrey KT22 OJZ. First published in 1938.
