Cheth

1. 1

   I AM the hedge of protection,Enclosing the field of existence.

   In this field thou dwellest,And I am thy defenseAgainst the darkness which is without.

   Yet is this hedge of safetyAlso a wall of limitation,And the darkness against which it defendeth theeIs the radiant Darkness of the Limitless Light,Too brilliant for thine eyes.

2. 2

   For within the wall of limitationIs the field of mine activityIn the world of manifestation.This, also is that which the wise callThe path of the House of Influence,For into it descendeth the influx of my power.

   Because it seemeth to be set apart,It is also the field of sin and of punishment,Because limitation is the root of failure,And sin is but the missing of the target of perfection.

   Yet as the archer gaineth skillBy reason of aiming again and again at his mark,Though in the beginning he miss it a thousand times,So doth the fruit of sin,Which men call punishment,Perfect the skill of my chosen ones.

3. 3

   Behold, sin and punishment are one,And the fire of punishmentIs the fire that refineth my works.Even in the sinner I am the Actor,And I, too, am the SuffererIn the experience of punishment.

   Thy pain is my pain,Thy suffering my suffering.Thy sorrows pierce my heart,Thine anguish is mine anguish.

   I stand not aloof, unmoved,Watching my handiwork,As a potter watcheth the clay upon his wheel.Nay, not so,For I am the clay,And the wheel,And the potter, too.I am the work, and the worker,And the means of working.

4. 4

   Take heed lest ye mistake these words.Be not deluded by false reasonings.They err who say,"The Lord is the Doer of all,Therefore may we do what pleaseth us,For we can do naught of ourselves."

   Know that the error of their thoughtIs the folly that any man do what pleaseth him.

   This false reasoningIs rooted in the delusion of separateness.The appearance of separatenessCometh of necessity from my self-manifestation.The delusion from it is the root of sin and pain.

   Yet the delusion passethWith the completion of the workFor which I enter into manifestation;And because nothing can prevail against me,Even the worst of sinners shall comeIn their appointed time, to liberation.

5. 5

   If thou canst grasp it,That liberation consisteth in the breaking downAnd utter destruction of the hedge of protectionWhich encircleth thee, and guardeth theeFrom the terror of the Darkness which is withoutFor when the work is finished in the field of CHETH,When the Abode of Influence hath served its purpose,Then shalt thou know, O Israel,That thou hast naught to fear,Naught to be guarded against.

   Then shall the dreadful DarknessBe revealed to thy perfected visionAs the flashing radiance of Light Limitless,And from the Field of sin and punishmentThou shalt pass,Into the boundless freedomOf my divine perfection.