Happy Snail Trails

I have a few very memorable experiences of traveling out of the body with Darwin Gross and a few instances of seeing or being near Paul as well on the inner. I don’t have any recollection let alone any desire to have any experience with David C. Lane inwardly nor outwardly, other than to give him as wide a berth as possible intellectually, and that mainly to keep on a civil and mentally balanced keel to myself.

I can clearly see his point about Paul plagiarizing the works of others, particularly Johnson. I readily accept that Lane is highly educated and measurably successful in his intellectual pursuits. I cannot see myself turning to him for any sort of spiritual assistance though.

Obviously, we don’t live, work, write or accept the same things and definitely not in the same ways quite like the people in Shakespeare’s time. Standards have changed. Times have changed. Fortunately, we have the freedom to question on the one hand whether Paul Twitchell’s alleged plagiarisms should be excused; and on the other hand, if David Lane’s work should be invalidated.

If it is one’s prerogative, then by all means — let him be the judge. As for me, I take heed from a Biblical passage: judge not lest you be judged. The exact location of that phrase and who said it may be of particular interest to someone. To me, though, it is of no particular interest, even less than grasping objects with my toes and feet.

David C. Lane has judged, though arguably, critically and some have said, correctly so. Consequently, to a measurable degree in this world, particularly in his field, he has been judged; moreover found correct and awarded with credit, honors, and maybe some remunerations for his work.

Be these as they may, they constitute responsibilities which he has taken upon himself. When I close my eyes and go to the temple within, I see David Lane as a decent human being. I don’t see him as someone who can lift me into the spiritual worlds where by the grace of God I can learn how to free myself from the endless wheel of Karma - good and bad. Within the realm of mind, spirit manifests as intelligence and reason. A manifestation, no matter how seemingly bullet-proof, cannot lift one above the realm of mind any more than a televised image of rocket ship can lift the viewer from his arm chair, even if the television set has a high-definition screen that renders in living color. When we turn to a licensed physician for medical help and he prescribes us medicine, we shouldn’t rush home and swallow the entire contents. We certainly don’t toss out the contents of the prescription because the doctor’s handwriting looks like chicken scratch.

I recall reading in Dialogues with the Master, Rebezar Tars advised Paul Twitchell to obtain a college education; not because his experiences in the far country were invalid without one. Without a college education, it would be impossible to reach a wide audience in the western world. He told Paul there were a few individuals living on Earth in remote regions who have profound experience in the far country. If these were to suddenly appear and walk in the common circles of mankind, their apparent lack of social conformity would quickly draw attacks upon them. Blindly following suit would obviously be counterproductive to someone who later held workshops and discussion groups and eventually published discourses. Even if Rebezar Tarz and these individuals were weakly figments of — my — imagination, the principle universally rings true. For example, a woman who regularly goes topless in the French Riviera does not go topless at Virginia Beach, Virginia because of the unwanted attention it would draw yet earns her living as a Victoria’s Secrets Model.

I can see Pedar Zask as a conscious co-worker with God, currently living and working at a much higher vibratory rate than what the physical eyes and ears can know. On every plane of existence, balance is the supreme law, even over the Chicago Manual of Style. I have found Paul Twitchell’s written works very beneficial. If I were to have given him more intellectual license than a brilliantly gifted child; one not certified with lofty titles and weighty degrees; one maybe even less developed in terms of grammar, eloquence or critical thinking ability; his written works continue to inspire and provide a great introduction to the inner worlds as well as the opportunity to reflect upon the very best within each of us. The Tiger’s Fang for example doesn’t constitute, nor does it purport to constitute a mystical-magical-physical stairway to heaven. If chewing on its pages could lift one into heaven - I’d long ago be ascended. Simply held in my hands, a copy of The Tiger’s Fang, Dialogues with the Master, Stranger by the River, or A Spiritual Notebook to name a few, would have no more intrinsic value than the robe of the crucified Jesus over which Roman soldiers gambled and casts lots. To paraphrase Twitchell, we can dismiss experiences as imaginary representations, yet imagination is hewn from the fabric of God.

But, isn’t that a mixed metaphor? Hewn? From fabric?

In the grander scheme, David C. Lane has played a credible and significant part; one which sympathetically invokes the law of diminishing returns.