manly men; where the chaste ladies? BRT:6:7 We were blameless for the outflowing tide of blood and entitled to the peace of the plough. The reward of the warrior is the tranquillity of old age. The pillar of battle, whose hands once wielded the hard-downslashing swords, the dragon chief, is due the peace of aged infirmity. If he is found among the gentle women, is it of any account? For he has established his
manhood before men. BRT:6:8 Thus spoke the master in the court of the king: "I am a man who has never shirked his duty. I have stood fast in the fray. I have struck many a mighty blow. Am I any less qualified to speak on things of the spirit because I was what I was? I have stood at the gateway of the grave and I have slept the sleep of inspiration. As my arm weakens, my spirit strengthens. I am no longer a man of war, but a man of peace. But let no man say before me that I am a shirker at the manly test. I am no lesser a man now. Hear my words, and
let your heart judge." BRT:6:9 "If a man followed a sunbeam to its source, he would find the sun; and likewise, if he followed his mind, he would find The Divine Source
from whence it came. From The High God flows the inspiring spark in men which kindles the flame of Wisdom, Truth and Goodness. Likewise does the mind project its thoughts and plans, which are given form when expressed in words. When a man's thoughts come from a spiritual mind, they reflect the nature of The Spirit Above All Spirits. When they are stimulated by desires, feelings and urges, they reflect only the influence of matter on mind." BRT:6:10 "Individual man is not a separate being cut off from all others, living isolated in his own enclosure. All things are in unity, and the thoughts and feelings of others, living or dead, pass through men like water through the gills of a fish. No man is cut off from the free flow of life, which purpose is to bring forth new forms of life, absorbing the old and outworn and
replacing it with the new."
BRT:6:11 "Have faith, for this is the child of study and diligence. If, however, adopted by credulity or apathy, it becomes a useless thing. Faith is not an excuse, but an expression of hope. If made the refuge of the gullible, it is a thing of little moment. Faith is the spear of the wise and the crutch of the
foolish."
BRT:6:12 The king said to the master, "Why do you, who are of warrior estate, entertain uncouth and ignorant men? Some say you even prefer their company to that of the wise and highborn." The master replied, "Sire, I will tell you how a Teacher greater than I dealt with such a question. In a land across the waters, a wealthy man gave a feast, to which this Great Teacher was invited. As was the custom there, outside the feasting place was gathered a motley crowd of hangers on, drunkards, thieves, deceivers and harlots. Now, when the prime feast was over, the Teacher went and sat among the outsiders and talked to them, in a manner to their understanding, concerning
uplifting things."
BRT:6:13 "Those within and the disciples of this Man were aggrieved because of this and sent out two men who said to the Great Teacher , 'Tolerant Master, is this a wise thing You do?' The word of such doings will spread quickly and when they hear of the company you keep, prudent men will shun You.' The Great Man replied, 'A worthy man never fails to do his duty wherever he may be, and what I am entails a duty to minister to such as these. As to My reputation, have I not taught that reputation is subservient to service? These, being God's children, are our brothers, yet their lives contain more problems unknown to you. Because you have no knowledge of the nature of their burden, you, considering yourselves wise, cannot disclaim understanding and sympathy.'" BRT:6:14 "These sinners are openly guilty, but such honesty is capable of transmutation into shame and shame into remorse. Those within are clever enough to cover up their guilt, and their duplicity and dishonesty cannot lead to shame and remorse, for they believe only that they are more clever than those here. Suppose those within, who despise these sinners, were to stand forth stripped of the hypocritical overlay covering their sins? What do you think you would see? I tell you, the inner aspect of many of those within is more hideous than that of many here without.'" BRT:6:15 "'For those within have much and therefore should be above temptation, yet I tell you that the man with most is often the most avaricious. The distortions of sin are not caused only by deeds done, but also by the
suppressed wish and desire.'" BRT:6:16 " 'I say to those who sit at the fleshpots, you covet the wealth of others. You envy the house or wife of your neighbour. Lewd thoughts burn in your minds when you gaze on the figures of women, so that your bodies lust after them. You practise deceit every day, wishing for wealth, position and fame. The man who covets in his heart suffers as a thief, and she who
lusts in her heart is a harlot.'" BRT:6:17 Those within heard these words, but held their peace and were silent. The master said to those who were beside him, "Their own hearts accuse them, for the hearts of the pure do not make such accusations. The impure cover the evil polluting their hearts with hypocritical displays of righteousness. They hide their true thoughts by displaying loathing for things their hearts long to do. They revile others for their sins, but this is hypocrisy. They hug their worldly reputations won by deceit, but were the mask to be torn aside, they would be seen as wallowers in the mire of secret sinful
thoughts and hidden vices."
BRT:6:18 One day, the master went to the encampment of the idol worshippers and said to one there, "Why do you worship images of wood and stone?" The idol worshipper replied, "So that it will provide me with food and shelter and keep me from harm." The master said, "How can it do this when it cannot even move of itself?" Said the idol worshipper, "Whom do you serve?" The master answered, "I serve The Great God Above All Gods who can feed His worshippers everywhere." Said the other, "See now, your own actions contradict your words, for if your God is everywhere, why have you left your home beyond the great forest to wander here?" The master
replied, "I am not here to serve God alone, but also to serve you. I bring
wholesome fare as a gift of comradeship." BRT:6:19 Wayfaring with some waytamers, the master looked into a pool with all its life and said, "What an imagination God has!" They said to him, "You have been taught in the shadow of the Great Master and may gaze on that, which casts the shadow, but how will it go with our children and their children who know only the shadow of a shadow?" The master said, "Behind every shadow, there is substance. If you see a shadow, believe there is
substance somewhere." BRT:6:20 There was a dyer with them, and he used the unripe berries of the buckthorn, which were for dying, as a purge. Dyers' greenweed gives a yellow dye, and wood mixed with this and lime gives a good green. The waytamers had a nightlight, which they made by heating a few oyster shells in the fire until they became white. Then they heated them in a container with double their weight in brimstone, for three hours, until they became red. This
made a light in the night.
BRT:6:21 Many times, the master spoke wise words, and his followers wrote them down, for he knew the way of words. He said, "When the wind blows it discovers every opening. Keep your eyes and ears fully open before marriage and half shut afterwards. Even a thief does not steal from his own neighbours. What does the wolf care if the sheepfold be destroyed. Progress is the creation of discontented people. A wise man learns to love the lovable and to hate the hateful, but more important is to know the difference. A child should behave towards his parents so they have no anxiety except as to his health, and confidence in the wisdom of his actions."
BRT:6:22 "No law whatsoever can ever unman a man or devirtue a woman. For the waywenders, the old law holds good. It is said that he who kills another unlawfully, who steals or robs with violence, or rapes or seduces a maid or matron, shall be placed in a wicker cage with others and burnt.