ses it out of calculation of the ranks of the living
altogether. "Not for himself, but for the world, he lives," as soon as
he has pledged himself to the work. Much is forgiven during the first
years of probation. But, no sooner is he "accepted" than his
personality must disappear, and he has to become _a mere beneficent
force in Nature_. There are two poles for him after that, two paths, and
no midward place of rest. He has either to ascend laboriously, step by
step, often through numerous incarnations and _no Devachanic break_, the
golden ladder leading to Mahatmaship (the _Arhat_ or _Bodhisattva_
condition), or--he will let himself slide down the ladder at the first
false step, and roll down into _Dugpa-ship_....

All this is either unknown or left out of sight altogether. Indeed, one
who is able to follow the silent evolution of the preliminary
aspirations of the candidates, often finds strange ideas quietly taking
possession of their minds. There are those whose reasoning powers have
been so distorted by foreign influences that they imagine that animal
passions can be so sublimated and elevated that their fury, force, and
fire can, so to speak, be turned inwards; that they can be stored and
shut up in one's breast, until their energy is, not expanded, but
turned toward higher and more holy purposes; namely, _until their
collective and unexpanded strength enables their possessor to enter the
true Sanctuary of the Soul_ and stand therein in the presence of the
_Master_--the Higher Self! For this purpose they will not
struggle with their passions nor slay them. They will simply, by a
strong effort of will put down the fierce flames and keep them at bay
within their natures, allowing the fire to smolder under a thin layer of
ashes. They submit joyfully to the torture of the Spartan boy who
allowed the fox to devour his entrails rather than part with it. Oh,
poor, blind visionaries!

As well hope that a band of drunken chimney-sweeps, hot and greasy from
their work, may be shut up in a Sanctuary hung with pure white linen,
and that instead of soiling and turning it by their presence into a heap
of dirty shreds, they will become masters in and of the sacred recess,
and finally emerge from it as immaculate as that recess. Why not imagine
that a dozen of skunks imprisoned in the pure atmosphere of a _Dgon-pa_
(a monastery) can issue out of it impregnated with all the perfumes of
the incenses used?... Strange aberration of