The sovereign soul

Who lives self-governed and at peace,

Is centred in himself, taking alike

Pleasure and pain; heat, cold; glory and shame.

He is the Faithful and Illumined One, glad

With joy of light and truth; dwelling safely

In the Central Way, with senses subjugate.

By this sign is he known:

Being of equal grace to comrades, friends,

Chance-comers, strangers, lovers, enemies,

Aliens and kinsmen; loving all alike,

Evil or good.

Within the Hedge he lives;

Restraining heart and senses, silent, calm,

Let him express Reality, showing

Pureness of soul, abiding on the Rock,

Tranquil in spirit, free of fear, intent

On Me, expressing thought of Me.

That Faithful One, so devoted, so controlled,

Comes to the peace beyond — My peace, the peace

Of highest Heaven!

Bhagavad Gita 

from

Extending  the  Hedge

Martin Cecil   1966

 

The hedge relates to control. Only that is included within the hedge that is under control. When we consider this from our individual viewpoints we may recognize that the reality of our identity is within the hedge, but it does not include very much because, for the most part, that which should be included is not under control. If we assume the position of being what we are in reality, then we are looking forth from the secret place, first of all toward that which constitutes the outer form, the physical body, mind and heart, which is surrounding the hedge. But the hedge is inside and we are inside the hedge. If we can take this position, looking out, then we extend the opportunity to accept control to our physical bodies, minds and hearts, that which is called the soul.

Whatever responds and yields may be included in the hedge, because it is under control. That's the only way by which anything can be included in the hedge. There is an exactness about this which is absolute too — it is an absolutely exact thing; there is no deviation whatsoever. You don't know what love is until you come through, and you can't get through without passing that flaming sword, coming through the hedge, coming through because there has been an acceptance of control. When we know this for ourselves, then we are in position to extend the control to the soul, so that it may come within the hedge; and coming within the hedge, we may have something to extend beyond into the environment. Let love radiate. The radiation can begin to go forth, and that which comes under control reflects that radiation and we see it. It is something more than control. Control is one of the elements of truth. There is a design present, which is the other element of truth. And there is love, of course, which is inseparable from truth. These are all contained within the hedge. It is a flaming sword — the fire of love and the sword of truth. It is a protection when we are within it. It looks rather a savage thing when we're outside — a flaming sword, for heaven's sake! — but it only seems this way when it is pointed at us. When we stand on the other side we have hold of the handle and it's all right. It turns every way and nothing can pass it that does not accept control, that does not accept the nature of the kingdom. So it is a protection, isn't it? And the further it extends out, the more is contained back of it, the more is enfolded in that protection into which nothing enters that works abomination or makes a lie or defiles. Nothing can get through. Nothing can get through to you when you are within the hedge in conscious identity. The reality is there now, always has been, but we've been so busily involved with the soul that we overlooked the truth of the matter.

 

So let us stand where we belong and see things from that standpoint. And our first view relates to our own soul. The word is, “Come up hither, come inside the hedge, and I will show you things which must be hereafter” — the soul may become aware of that which needs to find expression hereafter. And when we begin to share this attitude and viewpoint, this position, how easy to take responsibility for the soul and for the environment around us. We are protected, and nothing can get to us that would be destructive. It is our desire, in that state, to enfold as much of the environment as possible that will come into the hedge. If we all function correctly, and others stand with us, I wonder how long it would be before the world could be included within the hedge sufficiently so that everything outside of the hedge would cease even to seem to be a threat? Once the hedge reaches a certain point in its expansion, then the available territory for what won't come into the hedge becomes more and more circumscribed. And the things that don't belong in heaven on earth get squeezed out. That can happen with quite a rush when the time comes. But in the meantime we have something to do right at home, right here, because until the soul is included in the hedge none of the environment is going to be, really, because it is through the soul that we work.

© Emissaries of Divine Light