Sharpening of the Sword, The
In the Mysteries of Egypt there was a proceeding called “The Sharpening of the Sword.” The neophyte was placed in deep darkness. He was approached by the Great Hierophant, who disclosed to him some of the Mysteries; and light illumined the Hierophant. Then again everything sank into darkness. Afterward the priest designated as Tempter approached. Out of the darkness, the voice of the tempter asked, “Brother, what hast thou seen and heard?” The tested one answered, “I was honored by the presence of the Great Hierophant.”
“Brother, art thou convinced that this was the Great One Himself?”
“My eyes have seen and my ears have heard.”
“But the image could be deceptive and the voice could be false.”
Then the tested one either was confused and was rejected, or he was filled with firmness and spoke, “One can deceive the eyes and ears, but nothing can drag the heart into delusion. I see with the heart, I hear with the heart, and nothing impure will touch the heart. The sword entrusted to me is sharpened.”
Then again the Great Hierophant approached and, pointing out a chalice filled with a red beverage, said, “Receive and drink of thy chalice; empty it to see the mystery on the bottom.”
On the bottom was an image of a supine man enclosed by a serpent curled in a circle, with the inscription: “Thou art thyself the all-giving and all-accepting.” Thus reads the same Teaching at all times, but the darkness of ignorance causes one to forget its meaning. (AY, 520)
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