The following article is a translation of the chapter "Inner Voices" from a book by Bô Yin Râ titled Resurrection. The German original appeared in 1926. Its copyright is held by Kober Verlag AG, Bern, Switzerland.Copyright to this English translation is held by B.A. Reichenbach, 1996. All rights reserved.
Even the most ancient records of mankind's history on earth contain reports of individuals who, at certain times and places, and under special circumstances, would hear "voices" speak to them which other mortals could not hear. And, depending on such persons' depth of inner knowledge and the concepts of their native faith, they would interpret what those voices said .
Persons hearing such an inner voice are absolutely certain that its author is some other being, a source they clearly can distinguish from themselves.
As a result, they flatly would reject the imputation that they were merely holding an internal monologue and dramatizing, as it were, their own beliefs and notions. To be sure, there always will be people who in this way create their personal auditions, yet even so remain convinced of being guided by some "higher" power from the Spirit.
Only practical experience can here develop critical discernment. Much as in other spheres of life, one does not gain proficiency by theoretical instruction, but rather through extensive practice.
Anyone who frequently experienced inner voices will easily distinguish them from what is merely inner dialogue.
Not quite so easy to attain, by contrast, is expertise in judging the effective authors who are speaking through such inner voices.
Credulity is only too inclined to trust that any voice perceived within is of the highest spiritual level. Especially, if one is unaware that there are legions of invisible identities of the most widely differing kinds that physically can manifest themselves by way of inner voices.
In that event, however, it is not unusual that even people who, by temperament, are utterly devoid of pride and arrogance, indeed, are prone to suffer from a sense of crippling inferiority, will then be suddenly transformed into the very opposite. For now they see themselves as "instruments of God" and will imperiously demand profound respect of all the world because of their supposedly "divine" electedness. The irony they fail to grasp, however, is that their very attitude provides the strongest proof of how deceptive in their nature are the voices they so blindly trust.
Time and again one can observe that even hardened skeptics throw all caution to the wind the moment they themselves experience the phenomena which earlier they had so stoutly labored to discredit.
Now, by contrast, they implicitly believe no matter what that inner voice will tell them. Especially, if it presents itself as coming from a venerated spiritual being--the more sublime, the better--if not, indeed, from God Himself.
Now if the person, in addition, is informed that he was chosen to fulfill a noble "mission" and thus ought to regard himself as one of the elect, given that his task is to secure the happiness of all mankind, he then will have no further inclination to question the integrity of that mysterious inner voice. Notwithstanding that, so far, the only fact established is the actual presence of some inner voice. There is no evidence at all, however, proving that the unknown author of the hidden voice is really the one he claims to be.
The experience of hearing inner voices is much like listening to stranger on the telephone. The unknown caller might be an unmitigated scoundrel, and yet pretend to hold high honors and degrees; for he knows very well that he could not accomplish his dishonest goal unless he sounded like a person whom the listener will trust.
But who on earth, except a perfect fool, would ever carry out a consequential undertaking merely on the strength of a telephone call from a total stranger?
Would not any even halfway cautious person first attempt to get some facts before embarking on a venture which some unknown caller urged him to pursue?
The person who receives an "inner call" is equally unable to identify the speaker, and likewise has no means of verifying what the latter claims. Unless, that is, the person called already is forewarned and knows about the typical criteria by which all fraudulent designs are readily unmasked.
The following will briefly sketch the most important of these signs.
First. Anyone convinced of hearing what appears to be an inner "voice," which is perceived as coming from a clearly different being, should bear in mind that there are numberless invisible entelechies of the most widely differing kinds which can, given certain strict conditions, make their presence felt by way of speaking as an inner voice. And one should further be aware that the majority by far of all the beings who can thus express themselves most easily are typically the sinister variety; so that one must make every effort to escape the danger of their influence.
Extremely rare are the occasions when an authentic spiritual self whose level of development surpasses that of mortal man shall "speak" within a human soul. And where this may in fact occur, it is made possible by reason only of the already very high degree of spiritual maturity that person has attained.
If, therefore, one is not assured of having reached that high degree of spiritual development, one categorically ought to reject all inner voices, no matter how seductively they seek to gain the person's trust.
Second. Any "voice" that is experienced as proceeding from some unseen entity should be ignored at once if the transmitted words are heard not only by the inner, spiritual sense of hearing, but also by the physical ear.
At best, the person thus affected suffers from disorders of the nervous system, which ought not to be taken lightly. In such a case one ought to seek prompt medical attention.
Far more alarming is a situation where the unseen beings, which occupy the hidden side of nature, already have succeeded in possessing their unfortunate human victim so completely that it will hear such inner voices as physical, external sound, despite the fact that medical examination can detect no symptoms of organic illness.
It would do little good, however, to assume a hostile stance against these inner voices. The only thing one here can do is totally ignore them, with inflexible resolve; and, if necessary, even for long periods.
Any situation or locality that earlier had favored the experience of such voices should in future be consistently avoided.
It is doubtless possible to rid oneself of such possession. Yet this requires that the victim will no longer, under any circumstances, pay the least attention to their presence, but routinely disregard them, just like any other incidental noise.
In particular, the individual affected must beware of showing any fear. Nor should one, on the other hand, adopt a warlike attitude, as if one sought to fight them.
Whatever they attempt to tell their victim, and especially all "orders" they would give should resolutely be ignored. Indeed, one must not even think about the meaning which their message might contain.
Intensive daily work, a sensible activity outdoors, congenial company-- in general, not being much alone, all such will prove important factors toward recovering one's inner freedom from the undesired occupation by a brood of unseen parasites.
Anyone who suffered that affliction may count himself extremely fortunate if his continuous and firm decision to ignore their presence has finally succeeded, so that he can be free again and have control of his own senses.
Third. Deep suspicion should arise at once whenever any inner voice pronounces a command, or tells the person it addresses that he was chosen to perform a special "task" or "mission" in his life.
Those who truly have a task, a mission, or the like to carry out on earth receive their spiritual direction in a completely different way. For such communication is anything but mystifying, in fact quite sober and prosaic, and will occur within the person's ordinary outer life. And none that has been given an authentic task would ever dream of undertaking, at the bidding of some "inner voice," what he is called upon to do by those who are the Spirit's true authority on earth.
In general, it may be said that any inner voice should be ignored that speaks of topics other than what will advance the person's spiritual development, will bring more clarity into his inner life; in short, will make him better as a person.
No authentic spiritual voice proceeding from the realm of the Eternal will ever seek to influence a human mortal to the effect that he control his fellowmen in any way.
Authentic voices seek no more than to unfold, within the human soul, the spiritual form of love toward other fellow beings. In every case, however, the Spirit's voice will leave it to the free decision of the guided individuals how they will show that love in action, within the context of their given means.
To be sure, authentic spiritual guidance, too, can manifest itself as a distinctive inner voice, which then is clearly audible in the respective language of the person it addresses.
Inner speaking of that kind, however, will only be experienced in the person's inmost self--within the individuated spiritual organism. Thus, it may appear as if the inner voice were in effect the person's own eternal self. For it is only through the human being's inmost essence that all authentic spiritual guidance can make itself perceptible; that is to say, exclusively by means consistent with the Spirit's law.
As a result of the grotesque ideas concerning the domain of the "occult," which nowadays are eagerly deluding people's minds, there is a veritable mania being nourished, and many seekers after knowledge all but crave to hear such inner voices, indeed, would personally experience that phenomenon at almost any price.
It chiefly is such unchecked craving of so many that offers the lemurian parasites, which occupy the hidden side of nature, the perfect opportunity to make their presence known, to gain their victim's trust, and to fulfill his ardent wishes.
Not unlike vermin found in nature's visible domain, the hidden type as well prefers to make its home wherever they detect uncleanliness, or corners of decay where things are rotting in the dark.
Whoever would not be infested by that unseen brood should, therefore, strive for utmost purity in all his thinking and ideas, in his emotions and desires.
Observing this, one scarcely will fall prey to that addiction for sensational phenomena, which has already brought so many to the brink of inner ruin.
Those who were in fact prepared to hear authentic inner voices, and thus had found their highest spiritual guidance, had never looked on this experience as their foremost goal. What they, instead, had struggled to achieve; the goal to which they had devoted all their lives, was thoroughly to rid their minds of errors and delusions, and to correct their personal shortcomings.
Thus were they able, in the end, to reach the inner spiritual level where highest Love could manifest its essence in their inmost self.
And only voices that will speak from that sublimest source of Love shall ultimately grant the human being timeless joy.
Only inner voices of that kind can truly guide you to your highest goal.
One cannot cite nor summon voices speaking from the Spirit. Yet once the soul who seeks the Spirit is prepared to hear them, their message will be clearly heard.
By contrast, anyone is within reach of the lemurian voices of this physical domain, even humans at the lowest moral level.
Only if one firmly turns away and will consistently ignore them can one be certain of protection. And every person here is obligated to protect himself.
All should realize that no one else is able to protect them, and that not even the sublimest spiritual power of another is able to effect the least as long as they will frivolously court the danger.
Only courage, and resolve to pay their call no further heed, can here invoke the Spirit's help, in case such help were needed.
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