A-B-C Influences-Discernment Of
From Cassiopedia
From Mouravieff's Gnosis Vol I pp. 78-80
Let us, however, be very careful not to give the distinction between 'A' and 'B' influences too narrow an interpretation. "A' influences act through the General Law, and therefore conform to the Divine Will. We already know one reason for their being: to serve the interests of the Ensemble. Yet let us not forget that everything is relative. He who studies esoteric science must not naively oppose 'A' influences. That would only succeed in bringing catastrophe. This was Don Quixote's instructive experience--so wrongly understood. 'A' influences play a positive role in the economy of the Universe. They combine with devastating force to oppose anyone who tries to attack them directly in their ensemble. The task of the seeker is different. Instead of trying to annihilate the 'A' influences, or to carve out a path between them for himself by his exploits, while continuing his esoteric education, he should instead escape their grasp. It is important to understand that we can never attain this goal by our own forces. It is by absorbing 'B' influences--divine influences from a higher level, which are consequently more powerful--and by putting full trust in them, as well as by giving proofs of capacity and devotion, that we shall be liberated from the dominion of these 'A' influences--which are ruled by the General Law, assisted by the Law Of Accident.
He whose efforts are crowned with success--who attains higher levels of being--is immediately utilized to share in management and growth of a given level of the lower forces of the Cosmos.
In general he will have to accomplish--as a mission--a task in the domain of the 'A' influences. Above all, this work will require study of the bipolar world. Intelligence is the only tool we posses with which to achieve this end. This is its real reason for being, as well as the reason why its structure exactly reflects the world of the 'A' influences. This instrument thus allows man in accordance with Plato's principle. to grasp and know the similar by the similar.
Knowing this, the student of esoteric science must guard against falling into extremes expressed in some teachings; he must neither despise nor neglect his intellectual faculties. This intelligence must be developed and sharpened up to the limit of what is possible, and thought must become sharp as the point of a needle. But it must not be forgotten that the Personality, in spite of its complex structure and its many abilities, is nothing but an instrument, whose functioning remains purely mechanical. It is for this reason that in esoteric matters it does not know, and will never know anything with certainty. By its agnostic nature, and concerned with phenomena, it is limited by form and function to three dimensions. It is incapable of exceeding these boundaries, but sincerely takes the world of 'A' influences as the only reality.