The Fifth Initiation
The Revelation
The Energy of the Will-to-Good. The Power
Revelations and Mysteries: At the fifth initiation,
the great secret of the fire or spirit aspect is revealed.
Ray: First Ray
Planets: Mercury and Saturn
Plane: it takes place on the atmic plane
Centre: Root Chakra (Base of the spine)
“When the latent fire of the personality
or lower self blends with the fire of mind,
that of the higher self, and finally merges with the Divine Flame,
then the man takes the fifth Initiation in this solar system,
and has completed one of his greater cycles.” [1]
The disciple, having set out on his initiatory path, after the fourth initiation is now free from all personal interest and has by then destroyed his causal body. At this stage, not much remains to be done. The domination of the sixth sub-plane goes forward with rapidity, and the matter of the higher sub-planes of the buddhic is co-ordinated.
Having thus freed himself from the Buddhic plane (spiritual perception), the disciple sets off towards the Atmic plane and, at the culmination of his ascent, he sees further goals to be attained. Here, Vision is transformed into Revelation, which is the Synthesis of the Divine Plan. Therefore, the 5th Initiation is called the Initiation of Revelation. At this stage, the Initiate has at his disposal the energy of the entire Planet, being an advanced point of light. He acts as a bridge in radiating monadic energy and in manifesting the intelligence and love that have become instinctive within him.
This initiation has always been called in the Christian church by the name of the Resurrection, whereas it is the seventh initiation which is the true resurrection. The correct name for the fifth initiation is the Initiation of Revelation; this signifies the power to wield light as the carrier of life to all in the three worlds, and to know likewise the next step to be taken upon the Way of the Higher Evolution. This Way is revealed to the initiate in a new light and with an entirely different significance when the fifth initiation is taken. [2]
The relationship between the fifth and seventh initiations is extremely profound and mysterious. It is the revelation granted at the fifth initiation that makes the seventh possible. It is the true moment of emergence from the tomb of darkness and marks the entry into a light of a nature entirely different from any other experienced hitherto. After the fifth initiation, man is perfect, as far as the evolution of this Planetary Scheme is concerned, although he may, if he so wishes, attain two further initiations. [3]
Consequently, he is admitted to the centre of the Lodge and becomes a Master. In the preparation for this Initiation, the transcendent Will plays a major part, one aspect of which is occult Blindness. In this regard, it should be remembered that the very Light of God, in its crystalline purity, is dark. Every contact with the One Initiator brings the Disciple closer to the Centre of the purest darkness.
The Tibetan says: “Occult blindness is spiritually induced and ‘blacks out’ the glory and the promised attainment and reward.”
Through this culminating experience, the Master demonstrates his ability to remain solely within the Will-to-Good, without relying on the light of past achievements.
From the third initiation onwards, “he becomes aware also of that “Presence” which enfolds even that spiritual Entity, his own Monad. He sees his Monad as one with the Planetary Logos. Through the channel of his own Monad he sees the self-same aspects (which that Monad embodies) on a wider scale, and the Planetary Logos, Who ensouls all the Monads on His ray, is thus revealed. This truth is well-nigh impossible to express in words, and concerns the relation of the electrical point of fire, which is the Monad, to the five-pointed star, which reveals the Presence of the Planetary Logos to the initiate. This is practically incomprehensible to the average man for whom this book is written.” [4]
Revelations and mysteries at the Fifth Initiation
“At the fifth initiation the great secret which concerns the fire or spirit aspect is revealed to the wondering and amazed Master, and He realises in a sense incomprehensible to man the fact that all is fire and fire is all. This secret may be said to reveal to the Initiate that which makes clear to Him:—
- The secret name of the Planetary Logos, thus revealing one syllable of the name of the Solar Logos.
- The work and method of the destroyer aspect of divinity.
- The processes whereby obscuration and pralaya are induced.
- The mathematical formula which sums up all the cycles of manifestation.
- The triple nature of fire, and the effect of the great fire upon the lesser.” [5]
One comes into contact with the Will aspect of the Monad (at the fourth initiation, with the aspect of love). In this way, all connections have been established; one can respond to all the necessary vibrations and master the five planes of human evolution. [6]
The Rays at the Fifth Initiation: 1st Ray
There are three words connected with this initiation which are of real importance to its correct understanding.
They are: Emergence. Will. Purpose.
With the emergence aspect we have already dealt under the term “raising up” or the “transition” from the darkness of matter to the light of the Spirit. But of the Will, its uses and its function, as yet we know little.
Knowledge as to the nature of the will in any true sense only comes after the third initiation. From that time on the initiate demonstrates increasingly and steadily the first divine aspect, that of the Will and the right use of Power.
This first aspect of divinity is necessarily closely associated with the first Ray of Power or Will. [7]
The first Ray of Will or Power is distinguished by the highest known divine quality (there are others still higher). In the word, GOODWILL, the secret purpose of the planetary Logos is hidden. It is being slowly brought to the attention of humanity by means of the three phrases: God is Love. Goodwill. The Will-to-Good. These three phrases, in reality concern the three aspects of the first ray.
When a Master takes the fifth initiation He already knows the significance of the first two aspects, and must become consciously aware of the highest aspect: the Will-to-Good. He has developed in Himself “the love necessary to salvation, His own and that of those He loves, His fellow-men”; all His actions and His thinking are qualified by goodwill, in its esoteric sense, and the significance of the Will-to-Good lies ahead of Him and will be later revealed. [8]
The centres at the Fifth Initiation – Base of the spine
At this initiation the disciple appreciates for the first time the significance of the will and uses it to relate the head centre and the centre at the base of the spine, thus completing the integration started at the third initiation.
The repository of the will aspect of man’s innate divinity is to be found at the base of the spine; this can only function correctly and be the agent of the divine will after the third initiation.
The head centre is the one which is the custodian of the purpose; the centre at the base of the spine indicates the will as it implements the purpose. The purpose is slowly, very slowly, revealed to the initiate during the final five initiations and this only becomes possible after the Initiation of Renunciation [the Fourth].
At that time the initiate says, in unison with the great head of the Hierarchy, the Christ: “Father, not my will but Thine be done.”
These two words—will and purpose—are not identical in meaning. Sanat Kumara and His Council at Shamballa are the only Beings upon our planet Who know just what is the nature of the divine purpose. It is Their function and obligation to work that purpose out into manifestation, and this They do by the use of the will.
The will ever implements the purpose. This energy of the will is the most potent energy in the whole scheme of planetary existence… It is, in reality, life itself. [9]
The Planets at the Fifth Initiation
With the Fourth Initiation, the disciple is completely free from the influences of the zodiacal Signs in relation to Karma.
However, he continues to feel the influence of the luminaries and, in particular, at the Fifth Initiation, he is strongly influenced by Mercury and Saturn: one bringing illumination and the other offering opportunity. At the various initiations, the influence of the planets affects the candidate in a totally different manner than earlier. Cyclically the energies from the constellations pour through the planetary centres.
1. At the first initiation, the disciple has to contend with the crystallising and destroying forces of Vulcan and Pluto. The influence of Vulcan reaches to the very depths of his nature, whilst Pluto drags to the surface and destroys all that hinders in these lower regions.
2. At the second initiation, the candidate comes under the influence of three planets—Neptune, Venus and Jupiter. The three centres—solar plexus, heart and throat—are actively involved.
3. At the third initiation, the Moon (veiling a hidden planet) and Mars bring about a fearful conflict, but at the end the man is released from personality control.
4. At the fourth initiation, Mercury and Saturn again bring about great changes and unique revelation, but their effect is very different to the earlier experience.
5. At the fifth and final initiation, Uranus and Jupiter appear and produce a “beneficent organisation” of the totality of energies found in the initiate’s equipment. When this reorganisation is complete, the initiate can then “escape from off the wheel and then can truly live”.
All this time the energy of the sun (veiling a sacred planet, hitherto unknown) is steadily and persistently reaching the man via the solar angel. [10]
The 7 Planes of the Cosmic Physical Plane: the Plane of the Fifth Initiation
The 5th Initiation takes place on the Atmic Plane, the Plane of Consciousness of spiritual will, that is to say, the third plane of divine manifestation.
The Masters and Initiates of the Sixth Initiation operate in full consciousness on this plane. From this elevated level, they function as agents transmitting the energy of one of the three Buddhas of Activity. These three Buddhas are the creative Agents of the planetary Logos and are the Manipulators of the Law of Evolution. [11]
[1] Alice Bailey – A Treatise on Cosmic Fire, p. 47
[2] Alice Bailey – Rays and the Initiations, p. 644
[3] See Alice Bailey – Initiation, Human and Solar, p. 90
[4] Ibid., p. 117
[5] Ibid., p. 174
[6] See Alice Bailey – Initiation, Human and Solar, p. 117
[7] Alice Bailey – Rays and the Initiations, p. 714
[8] Ibid., p. 645
[9] Ibid., pp. 688 and 714-715
[10] Alice Bailey – Esoteric Astrology, p. 70
[11] See Alice Bailey – Rays and the Initiations, p. 463
