Edna Lister’s Lectures 1966

Triumphant, Rapturous Being and Living

Edna Lister lecture outline; May 3, 1966, 51st International New Thought Alliance Congress, Los Angeles, California.

This has been a year of glory and of miracles of science. What was just “talk” last year is this year’s walk in space. Next, we’ll be landing on the moon.

We spent last year’s war budget on this space exploration, despite all the voices saying, “They can’t do that!” and “What for?” The doubters and complainers simply have no eyes to see the beauty in it, the romance for tens of thousands of children looking up. The whole world is looking up.

We’ve set new air speed records, 1,800 mph, New York to Paris in three hours, two hours to cross the U.S. Doctors are now able to treat the growing baby in the mother’s womb. These are miracles.

Revelation 7:1 tells of the “four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth.” A scientific journal recently printed an article about the earth having four corners in high layers, each covering an average of 1,000 square miles.

Science, which is already doing the “greater works” that Jesus mentioned, is our aid in Bible interpretation. The Bible is also the greatest textbook on psychiatry ever written.

What about our year so far? Are we doing the greater works? Have we planned for new experiences, new expansion and new ascension? Are we satisfied with our progress?

If not, we ask ourselves whether we have a year’s set of goals. Have we reached them? What measuring rod do we use to know how to plan this year’s goals?

We must have a method of cross-checking ourselves. We cannot stand still, for everything obeys the cycles of expansion or contraction. We love more or less. Our bodies are stronger or weaker. Our eyes see more or see less.

Our only thermometer for the heat of our expansion or the chill of contraction is praise. Is our praise stronger, higher, deeper, broader and longer? Do I praise more today? Coming home at night, do I praise at the door that I am home. Do I expand upward in praise in the morning?

We can tell exactly the degree of our ascension in consciousness for a day or a year, for praise becomes a compulsive action. The illumination of Ascension acts as the amplifier for the desire to praise until we must praise.

When I become the law of praise, I am being perfect as my Father in heaven is perfect. When I become the law of praise, I am being faith in my desire, thinking and imagination. When I become the law of praise, I am being baptized by the Light from above, hour by hour.

“I am now possessed by the One God, who is Father of us all, who is above all, through us all and in us all.” This is our perfect metaphysical statement.

New Thought is new every day, as God is new every day. Light is new. To expand in consciousness, I move up to the higher creative center. I close out all earth noises. I close out all earth’s sound waves. I close out all earth’s mental waves, such as those carried on radio and television transmissions.

I stand in the Light pouring down from above. Praise has become my escalator to my Mount of Transfiguration. Praise holds me as I conquer. I say, “Let there BE Light,” and new Light absorbs any and all darkness near me. “Light is denuding evil of power all around me.” Where Light is, evil is not.

New horizons unfold before me. This Light is the flame of immortality, unconquerable, triumphant Light. The Light of lscension becomes a rapture of being and living within me.

We do not need new words of praise, but we do need words newly vitalized every day. We have allowed words to use us. Buy we must now use words as praise. When enough of us stand as Light, transfigured, the world will follow for Light is life, triumphant and victorious.

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The Eightfold Path of Buddha: Powers of Being

Edna Lister lecture transcript; October 18, 1966, Cleveland, Ohio. Scribes Margaret Doan, Ruth Johnson, Lotus Landis, Irene White, Ross Whitehead.

Following is the highest possible interpretation for the Eightfold Noble Path of Buddha, containing the original teachings from the Sources. Jesus taught the rhythms of seven in the Seven Degrees, and powers of being, which are eight phases of the Logos Emanation of Power as energy. We use these powers of being in our healing work.

Gautama Buddha (483-563 B.C.), the “enlightened one,” founded the philosophy of Buddhism in India, and taught a doctrine of “four noble truths”: existence is suffering, the cause of suffering is desire, there is an end to suffering, called transcendence (Nirvana), and there is a path to the end of suffering, the practice of meditation on Eightfold Noble Path.

The soul walking the eightfold path never completely succeeds because by climbing on it he cannot pass beyond the third Degree of the Adept. Even at the eighth point of ascension they are still adepts. The modern versions of the eightfold path taught today seek self-control, but usually fail to sublimate. The Via Christa is the way of complete ascension to become as perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect.

Neophyte: Law of Acceptance

“I accept all that comes to me as mine own. I earned it in past lives or created it in this life, or it is something of darkness that only I may lift for my Father; therefore, I do accept and lift all that comes unto me. I now accept my responsibility to lift all that comes to me, which entails these three things: assuming all responsibility for all darkness around me, a responsibility to sacrifice self, and the responsibility of full surrender to be the servant of all the Power. I now observe every detail of my life. I am alive and alert to observe above and below. As I use observation in my outer life, according to my practice of observation, exactly so shall I see and hear in Heaven.” Only under acceptance can the higher mental faculties open: logic, reason, discernment discrimination, and discretion.

Rebirth is the first Mystic Brotherhood Initiation of the Via Christa. Jesus emphasized this: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” – John 3:3. Rebirth breaks the shackles of the subconscious with all its old ideas, opinions and prejudices. You must be reborn in consciousness to control the “little self,” let alone master it. Rebirth makes us child-like in the simplicity of our acceptance. “Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein” – Mark 10:15.

Self-control is the first Buddhist path. Control is the first step in conquering self, and it begins with bridling the tongue. Stop using idle words, especially, “I’m trying.” Buddhism calls this “right understanding” (knowledge), and teaches that you must speak no ill or injure anyone. On the Via Christa, self-control is under the adept degree. We call it self-mastery. Here you apply discrimination, which is the mental faculty of differentiation, of being able to make an exact distinction between different ideas and actions. Discrimination is how you decide what is right and what is wrong.

Hatha Yoga, the yoga of physical control, is under self-control. For us, Hatha Yoga is part of the five great Laws of the Neophyte: breathing, water, diet, rest and exercise. Rest includes sleep, recreation and diversion, all the activities that inspire and quicken, including reading and painting. When we coordinate and apply these Laws in their proper relationship, we are balanced physically.

The first great Power of Being is conquering the forces working in the lower self, the subconscious or subsoul. This comes under acceptance and self-mastery. You already have the Power to conquer subsoul, so why work for just self-control? The difference between our work and Buddhism is that they work for 20 years to control self under Hatha Yoga, while we do all this plus Rajah Yoga, which is the Royal Path to Illumination.

Disciple: Law of Surrender

All Power comes from above. “Not I, but my Father doeth the work.” Here you surrender self-will and self-desires to become the servant of all the Power. To surrender is to let go. By letting go of self-credits, self-doubts and all thoughts of self, you conquer through obedience to the law of surrender, knowing that the Power does the work.

The second Buddhist path is control of actions, and it involves “right thought” (intention). Under Buddhism, this is control of all actions by controlling outer expression. To us this means right direction of all outer expression under the faculty of discretion, which is the power of deciding or judging. Discretion is the faculty that governs knowing when to speak and when to remain silent. This is a law of surrender.

Baptism by Water is the second Mystic Brotherhood initiation. Through Baptism by Water we stabilize emotions into the Christ-life. The Disciple does this by surrendering emotional “jags” and reactions to balance the emotional expression. Emotional reactions include opinions, prejudice, resentment blame, guilt and all old, worn-out memories.

The second Power of Being is command of all inner forces under the process of growth. The inner forces of the “process of growth” deal with the principles of expansion and contraction. Under acceptance and surrender come expansion and growth. Under contraction and repudiation come condensation and crystallization. Command of all inner forces is earned through stabilizing emotions until all healing Power moves through us to raise or lower the rate of vibration of Substance. This is the power of healing. We know that if we work for self-mastery we already have self-control.

The Law is, “I arise and go into my Father’s house.” Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). The Law helps those who help themselves. This means you have to work out your own salvation; you work out your own problems.

Adept: Law of Obedience

“Obey the Law and live.” The Law of Obedience covers all Law, for if you break the least of the Laws, you have broken the whole. Balance of the mental life is the responsibility of the Adept.

Baptism by Fire is the third Mystic Brotherhood initiation. Here the flames of the Holy Ghost pour out upon you. These flames are the pure, unadulterated atomic fire of Holy Breath as love. This comes at any hour after surrender until all that is left is love. Baptism by Fire always brings a choice of love or hate, positive or negative. Love brooks nothing but love.

For one who hates, treat by declaring, “Father, raise this beautiful Substance of Love sent to me. Ascend, purify and restore Love to (Name).” Use this for those who criticize and curse you to redeem their lost soul substance. Stand in a circle of love, gird your loins, cross your arms and declare the curses are love, and thank God for them.

The third Buddhist path is cultivation of perseverance, which is steadfastness. All obstacles become a challenge for the initiate to practice steadfastness and perseverance. This path includes “right speech,” which means wise and careful words. What are you going to declare? “I am a swine” or “I am good”? Remember, one “Let there be Light” sets into action the whole eightfold path without having to think through each Law.

The third Power of Being is command over all outer forces. You can only command yourself, and you do it under complete surrender. Use the gesture of a creator: Give yourself the inner command to “gird up your loins.” Contract the abdominal muscles to in draw all magnetic currents to the solar plexus center. Hold them there as you in draw the etheric currents on a deep breath. As magnetic and etheric currents meet at the solar plexus, an explosion follows, which is Light “watering” the glands. This makes you a “pillar,” an instrument of the Living God.

Three is the number of perfected personal expression. To do the “greater works” that Jesus performed takes a vivid Imagination, and flaming Desire. You can only do by letting. Stand steadfast and let God do the work as you, with no force of self-will. We don’t use Power, we let Power use us. In this sense, standing is conquering by becoming the Power released. Then the Power goes forth to do the work. Overcome and overlook. To overcome is to come up over all ideas of self and limitation. To overlook is to look up over outer appearances to see God’s reality.

Mystic: Praise

The Mystic is one who serves God day and night, inwardly singing “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Praise frees you to pray with fervor at the heart center. The heart center is the respiratory rate of balance between the three lower and three higher chakras.

Transfiguration is the fourth Mystic Brotherhood Initia­tion. Transfiguration is in-drawing and ascending the lifesparks from the physical to the desire to the mental body. You are transfigured only under service to God. Four, the number of service, represents the pineal gland of Wisdom and Illumination.

The fourth Buddhist path is cultivation of tolerance and “right action” (conduct). Buddhism teaches that tolerance is cultivated through contemplation and seeking comprehen­sion of the “all.” This is not enough. You must live in the world and learn how to agree and adjust to apply tolerance.

The fourth Power of Being is setting aside gravitation, which is becoming too light to be held by earth gravity. It is walking on Light-beams, a raised and indrawn vibration of the atomic mental body. This is Transfiguration. Emotions must be sublimated to levitate or walk on water. Under praise, thankfulness, gratitude and devotion, the ALL lifts the “little self” into I AM consciousness. Accep­tance, surrender, obedience and praise are the pathway to Transfiguration and levitation.

Master: I AM Good

Good is the name of the Father on earth. Good is the name of every lifespark, atom, molecule and cell on earth. When you say, “I AM good,” it lets you be used by God. “I AM good” is a recall to your Throne Center. Call upon the name of “I AM good” to lift yourself above every negative circumstance. You apply this Law from the heart center, above the meridian [diaphragm].

“I AM good” is the name of your identity with God. Fasten yourself to Him. Stand and shout, “I AM GOOD,” then in draw the magnetic and etheric currents and hold them at the abdomen, covering the lower centers [sacrum, splenic and solar plexus]. This forms a Girdle of Aphrodite, a sheath of protection about the solar plexus. Shocks, blows and “world” things hit at the solar plexus. This Sheath of Aphrodite holds you undaunted. This is our gift of the Fathers.

Crucifixion of self-will is the fifth Mystic Brotherhood Initiation. When you crucify self-will, you mate Desire with Will to become I AM. You must look Up. “I AM good” causes desire to mate with will in a marriage of the Lamb; and this opens the pituitary as Intuition and the pineal as Illumination. The symbol of a fully opened pineal and pituitary is 144,000, the name of the Elect on earth. “I AM good” tunes you in to the River of Life that cleanses and purifies as you move with it. Tune in the vibration of the faith of all ages rather than the world vibration. You can apply it 24 hours a day.

The fifth Buddhist path is cultivation of an impersonal-personal attitude toward life. Buddhism calls this “right livelihood.” To us the cultivation of an impersonal-personal attitude is becoming too “simple-minded” to take offense. This strength comes with ascension, finding and holding your new relationship with God and man, agreeing and adjusting in harmony with the River of Life. Think of how many go through life wanting harmony to adjust to them. “I AM good” is good management of your life and faith. Learn to go to God first and let love pour forth upon your neighbor. Lift the situation and stand in and on the Light to adjust in harmony.

The fifth Power of Being is becoming too heavy to be moved. This is exhaling and invoking the Power on the 5th Breath (atomic) to become too heavy. You do this for protection. You apply the law of condensation to substance to lower its rate of vibration, and precipitate under the law of gravitation. Both Laws operate under the Principle of Contraction. This gives you the absolute ability to stand unshakable, immovable by any darkness, becoming too heavy to be moved from the Light. Breath is the whole Substance of life throughout the universes. In breathing under the Laws of Condensation and Gravitation is how you precipitate a visible body.

Priest: Law of Becoming

The Priest works under the law of becoming (transmutation or sublimation) all the law he has learned. This is the “lonely path” because you walk it “alone.” Here you string together your lost pearls of wisdom. Separate the wheat from the chaff, and keep only the good.

Resurrection is the sixth Mystic Brotherhood Initiation. You resurrect both Love, the emotional life, and Wisdom, the mental life. To do this you apply just appraisal in three steps: surrender, praise and lifting. You surrender self under the Laws of Forgiveness. Praise all previous good. You lift all to the Father, knowing that He does the work. As you are resurrected from old ways of thinking and emotions you move into all life as the Father-Mother Principles of Wisdom and Love.

The sixth Buddhist path is balance and equilibrium, which is “right conduct.” Balance, Equilibrium and Equanimity are standing on the Hub of the Wheel. Get off the pendulum of self and stand on the Hub of the Wheel. Then you become a teacher and protector.

The sixth great Power of Being is becoming invisible, to clothe yourself in Supreme Light and make yourself invisible to darkness. Lost articles become invisible when there was irritation, upset or blame at the time of their disappearance. To invoke Supreme Light, there can be no blame. “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). You make things visible in the quiet of your soul, the Golden Silence, under the Law of Becoming.

Christos: Law of Absolute Responsibility

Ascension is the seventh Mystic Brotherhood Initiation. To ascend is to climb or go up to a relatively higher position, to rise by process of growth. It means to proceed from the inferior to the superior, to rise in degree of characteristic quality. To ascend is to ascend to a higher point in consciousness and conquering. Ascension is continually moving up in consciousness, a continually growing awareness, continually increasing rate of vibration and continually expanding aura.

The seventh Buddhist path contains the six attributes of the Priest: 1) Face life with no running from self or others. 2) Bridle the tongue, will and imagination. 3) Synthesize the five senses into Apperception (one of 44 faculties). 4) Seek full use of your mystic eyes and ears. 5) Translate life’s experiences into Ascension of soul. 6) Balance Love and Wisdom, expressing in the world as Compassion.

The seventh great Power of Being is to create or to invoke life by the spoken Word, first for others and then for yourself. You reach this by complete surrender to become the servant of all Power. This is standing in the Light as Light. Assume all blame and responsibility for all about you, wherever your name is used or for whatever you are connected with. This is under the Law of Responsibility.

Eighth Power Degree: Joy

Immortality is the eighth Mystic Brotherhood initiation. Joy Lifts, ascends, heals and cleanses. Immortality means to live now in Eternity as an immortal being.

The eighth Buddhist pathway is the final discarding of the “husks” of consciousness. To ascend, you discard the husks of self, opinions, prejudices and old forms. Go back to the beginning and add the illumination of Rajah Yoga to the Hatha Yoga of breath and Karma Yoga of earth living. Pick up your pearls, life experiences, everything of Love and Wisdom you cast aside in the past during your descent into matter, and during past incarnations.

The eighth great Power of Being is overcoming death (1 Corinthians 15). This is the point at which you become Law and Comprehension, casting off the grip of earth gravity, becoming responsive only to paradise gravity. The physical ascends into the desire body and the desire into the mental body, and you walk in an atomic vehicle. This marks the final ascension of the faculties of Imagination, Thinking and Desire.

Steps of Ascension

You ascend through the sub-steps of the Seven Sacred Degrees. The first ascent contains one hundred forty-four steps through seven times seven equals forty-nine degrees of initiation, or twelve times around the Wheel of Terrah acquiring the twelve virtues of each sign. Even while incarnated in one sign, you are still polishing the virtues of the other eleven. You never focus on just one sign, but always operate under all twelve. If you neglect polishing the virtues of one sign-incarnation, the debts pile up until you “catch up.”

The first ascent awakens the optic chiasm of the thalamus, where Light enters and shines forth through the mystical “third eye” in the forehead. This is the window of the soul open toward Jerusalem.

These one hundred forty-four steps equal the Thirty-three Via Christa Degrees as we make the rounds of the twelve signs twelve times. When you step to the hub of the Wheel, you open a new round of twelve times through the signs. We are higher, but are still polishing the things left undone. On this second ascent, the second round, you begin the thousand burnt offerings, a thousand days of selflessness, to open the mental body lotus petals. You complete one day of burnt bfferings by being as perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Thank God and smile a thousand times an hour. Say, “I love You, Father!” a thousand times an hour.