Consider the signs of the times:
War is rampant, strife is raging,
And the fires of passion are devastating the earth;
Nation is opposed to nation, creed to creed and system to system:
Science has discovered its own weakness,
Philosophy has confounded philosophy,
And a confusion of mental tongues has become universal.
Yet in the height of all this confusion,
In the midst of the fierce clash of prejudice and passion,
One has descended whose name is Love,
Whose mission is Peace,
And whose end is Unity.
Walking in the midst is He,
But men know Him not because of their infirmities;
Yet at His touch the blind receive their sight,
The deaf hear, and the lame walk.
Silently, holily is He working in isolated hearts:
Here and there a disciple is called,
And he hears and follows;
And the disciple knows his Master, and the Master His disciple.
The Chosen Few have not been deaf to the command, "Follow Me",
And they have followed with sure and certain steps.
They have gazed upon the face of the Serene One;
They have sat at the feet of the Perfect One;
They have accepted the instruction of the Holy One,
And peace abides with them.
They walk amongst men, and are not discerned;
They have relinquished all strife in their inmost hearts,
Hating none, condemning none;
They have entered the Gate of Forgiveness;
Goodwill is the breath of their nostrils,
And boundless charity is the master of their
thoughts. They have ceased from vain longings;
They have chased away all fluctuating desires;
They have passed through the Gate of Sacrifice,
They have clothed themselves with the Garment of Humility,
They tread the Path of Good, and their gait is steadfast.
Fear and doubt they have dispersed;
They walk upon the turbulent waters of sorrow,
And they sink not, and are comforted.
They are no longer confounded by false philosophy;
They have passed through the Sea and the Desert,
And have entered the Promised Land.
And these are they who have been born again for the salvation of the world;
In the time of darkness, they have accepted the Light;
In the time of evil, they have chosen the Good;
In the day of self-seeking, they have silenced the many voices of self,
And have followed the One Voice whose music harmonizes all.
Therefore, they rejoice;
Not blind to the evil,
But because the Omniscient One has shown them the end of evil;
Yea, in themselves they have already accomplished that end,
For they have become One with Him whom they have followed.
All that belongs to the world they have given to the world,
And they have not murmured.
The clouds of confusion do not darken them,
And the fires of passion do not scorch them;
Therefore let gladness reign!
For with the great darkness of these times, there has also come great Light;
Though the rivers of sorrow are swollen high,
The banks are perfumed with the flowers of blessedness;
Though strife is raging, Peace has entered into the midst;
Though confusion has covered the earth, unity has been revealed;
And though many continue to dream the dreams of illusion,
The vision of the Great Reality has gladdened the ken of the wakeful.
Awake, ye sleepers! Arouse yourselves, ye dreamers!
When will ye open your eyes, and see?
The Perfect One has appeared!
The stainless majesty of the Holy One is revealed;
His sleepless watchers have hailed Him,
And He has borne away their weariness.
Come, then, ye sorrowing, and be glad!
Come, ye weary, and find peace!
Come, ye toilers, and be at rest!
For the longing of the ages is fulfilled,
And He whom we call Master has appeared:–
He is the sacred inmost heart of Love.

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