and to separate one from the other. WSD:1:25 The reason that there is so little divine intervention is not that
The Divine remains indifferent, but that man has been given all the powers and wisdom necessary to deal with the affairs of Earth. If he fails to make use of them, who then is to blame? The duty and obligation placed upon man relate to his reaching upward towards spirituality and outward towards perfection. If man declines to do this, he must accept the consequences and
can blame none but himself.
WSD: 1:26 Were there no pain and suffering, man would be like a jellyfish drifting aimlessly with the currents in a sea of matter. Suffering, pain and sorrow result from an existence within a material body and are not a part of man's spiritual heritage. The bonds of humanity are forged in the furnaces
of life and not in its tranquil breezes. WSD: 1:27 These are the directions for those who follow the Great Path of the True Way, the never failing guides and sustainers: Be grateful for the good things of life. Be patient under suffering and steadfast in adversity. Be diligent in the performance of your duty, and never shirk your obligations. Bear the blows of affliction with cheerfulness and courage. Do not be quick to anger, hasty to argue or rash in judgement, for this reveals your lack of self-control. Avoid the weaknesses of unjust hate and envy, for they rebound upon yourself. Do not engage in undue frivolity, lest people come to think you petty-minded. Keep your temper under control, for an angry person is a confused one. Let your deportment be serene and confident. Keep your mind
above earthly things, and look towards the Kingdom of the Spirit and Mansions of the Soul. Never pay homage to evil men, and never commend
what is wrong.
WSD: 1:28 Do not use lewd expressions or foul language, for this advertises your inferiority to others. Do not laugh at sly or dirty humour, for
this displays an unclean and unhealthy mind. Do not raise money or possessions to the status of a god. Fit yourself to earn an honest and useful livelihood. Skill and knowledge are jewels in times of prosperity, a sword and shield in times of adversity, and sure guides through times of uncertainty.
WSD: 1:29 In the midst of material illusion, do not add to the confusion by acting falsely in word or deed. Be diligent and consistent in studying the wisdom contained within these books. Never forget the benefits that accrue from a life well led, and remember that whatever befalls is intended for your own good. If a man, establish yourself by your manliness and, if a woman, by
your femininity.
WSD: 1:30 Be modest in manner and calm in bearing, for men avoid the
excitable man who is a weak reed to lean upon in times of stress and a hazard in danger. The boastful man falls far short of the image he intends to create, so weigh your words carefully, for the spoken word cannot be recalled. A man careless with words is also unreliable in other ways. Never make a
confident of one who babbles. WSD: 1:31 Forget what has been done and cannot be altered, and do not be concerned about things, which may never happen. If you have anything of
value, keep it away from an envious man. Arise early in the morning, and greet the day eagerly, for the sluggard and lieabed are already partially dead. Eat and drink in moderation, taking sufficient for the wellbeing of the body without overloading it. Seek the company of those who are your superiors in wisdom, skill and spirituality, so that you will be raised up to prosper. Always be ready to heed advice and to accept instruction, bearing in mind that it is more profitable to listen than to talk. WSD: 1:32 The man who cannot restrain his tongue rides a wild stallion. Keep it in check, and avoid returning a hasty answer to those who say unkind
things, which may stem only from their own weakness. Be patient and forbearing under provocation, and restrain your arm when tempted to raise it in anger. The man who remains unmoved under provocation is a better man than he who strikes. Always speak calmly and with few words. Speak softly and clearly, for only fools shout to cover their own ignorance. The ox
bellows, while the bull snorts.
WSD:1:33 One of the great failures of life is to lose a friend. If this misfortune befall a man, he should search his heart carefully and sincerely, lest it happen again. Never seek to maintain a friendship through hypocrisy or flattery, for this is no friendship, and it displays the double heart of a
deceiver.
WSD: 1:34 Be proud but not haughty, straight-talking but not insulting. Bold but not aggressive, patient but not servile. Bear in mind that it is better for a man to be numbered among the insulted than among the insulters, among the slandered and not among the slanderers. WSD: 1:35 Keep your feet firmly upon the Great Path of the True Way, using moderation in all things as your guiding light. Never be effusive of speech or too friendly towards those who are no more than acquaintances. Keep all at arms length until they have established themselves for what they are and their true natures are revealed. Never allow the secrets of your heart to be handed around as common property.
WSD: 1:36 Do not be over-sensitive and ever ready to take offence, for this will only turn people against you. Never trespass upon the privacy of others, and let all follow the paths of their inclinations. Attend to your own affairs, and keep your thoughts from the affairs of others.
WSD:1:37 Of thoughts, words and deeds, only deeds have any established value on Earth. Thoughts are intangible things in a world of matter, while words have no meaning unless translated into action. WSD: 1:38 Goodness and wisdom should not be secreted, for when their possessor cuts himself off from others, what purpose do they serve and how can they be measured and tested? The good man who fears contamination by the world has no confidence in his goodness and renders no service. If a man is found sinking into a morass of mud, he who tries to rescue him cannot be
rescued by anyone standing off. The man who attempts to clean up the morals of the people is like the dusting cloth which cleans only by becoming
soiled itself.
Chapter Two - The Dispensations of Life
WSD:2:1 If visited by affliction or sorrow a man should not bewail his loss, for these should be the means of drawing him closer into the embrace of Divinity. They are meant to strengthen his spirit and develop his spirituality. No man has any right to expect an untroubled life, and one who has passed half a year without trouble or affliction has already received ample reward for living and should not ask for more. Sorrow is the purging agent of the spirit