The teaching and the books
On the very first reading one should not be concerned about anything other than the general ‘content’ in the manner it presents itself to the superficial reader who never has any ‘time’.
The book the pupil holds in his hands must already have satisfied his curiosity to know its contents if he then decides to read it in a different way, a way which can bring about a bright, joyful resonance in his eternal soul and in his own substantial spiritual organism…
If a passage in one of my books which deals with the real eternal spirit and the things of the substantial spiritual life does not yet arouse the joyful echo one feels when something long forgotten, once loved in the past, is once more evoked, – then the passage in question has not yet been understood!
There is no point in racking one’s brains over this passage or even trying to produce artificially a sensation which does not yet resonate from within.
In this way only the worst of self-deceptions would be nourished!
If the emotion of recognition which gives complete certainty at the same time and is received with a deep joy is not yet there, then leave alone all such passages for the time being and turn to others which have something to say at a given moment.
The pupil will have to pick up the same book countless times for it to impart to him what it can impart! –
(Excerpts from the chapter ‘How my books are to be used’ pages 603-609.)
