" . . . Thus, the keeping of the mantle is the result of the effort of the one who understands and feels the presence of the mantle of the Great White Brotherhood and lives by its Law. Thus may you be true to the mantle of chela even before you receive it and therefore become so worthy that it is almost perfunctory on graduation day that the robe of the graduate becomes the mantle of chela.

"It is the same for those striving for the office of Christ. It is the imitation of Christ, it is the practice
of the Presence of Christ that establishes in your life not only the reverence for that mantle which is shortly coming upon you, but also the respect for the officeholder who does already wear the mantle.

" . . . Thus, understand that this mantle must be worn by someone in physical embodiment, and the mantle of Christ must be worn by the many. But when the disciples became apostles, as spokesmen of Christ, they wore his mantle of Christ and they moved in the Spirit of the Christ consciousness. Even though from time to time there may have been error in their expression or in their doctrine, they had to receive the mantle in order to do the work of the Lord—and the Lord is the I AM THAT I AM. Thus, [in logical progression] the Christed ones are becoming the embodiment of the Great God who is Guru."

He lived over 300 years ago in the 17th century. He was a Christian layman who lived in a French monastery.

Nicholas Herman was just the guy in the kitchen, who prepared the meals for the others. Not much of a person to take notice of. He walked with a limp that resulted from injuries sustained as a soldier. His disability became so difficult, he was switched from the kitchen to repairing sandals.

The world has long forgotten the names of the some one hundred or so clergymen who lived at the Paris monastery, the ones whose stomachs and feet Nicholas Herman served. But history has never forgotten that humble kitchen worker and sandal fixer. He is gratefully remembered around the world by the other name that he chose for himself, Brother Lawrence.

Brother Lawrence's life, experience and teaching set forth a way of relating to God that has become for many the greatest discovery of their lives. It is summed up in the simple description, The Practice of the Presence of God.

Brother Lawrence never wrote a book. After his death, fifteen of his letters and recollections of conversations with a colleague were gathered and published. Protestants as well as Catholics recognized the treasure that his life and counsel represented for Christians. John Wesley even included his work in the Christian library he published for his converts.

Elizabeth Clare Prophet offers an in-depth discussion of Brother Lawrence's spiritual practices in her Summit University lecture series on Mystical Paths of the World's Religions, Taoism and Christianity, 'Listening for the Still Small Voice' video HL92029.

I did not find my way of approaching God in books on the spiritual life or from the experience of others. For example, I was talking a few days ago with a very devout person and he told me how the spiritual life was a series of stages. First one begins with servile fear. Then one grows into the hope of the eternal life. This leads to the realization of pure love. Each of these has its own different steps, but at the end one arrives at a blessed state.

That is not the way I went about it or understood it. In fact, this kind of approach discouraged me. So when I devoted my life to God, I simply made a resolution to give myself completely to him the best way I knew how, by turning from my sinfulness and seeking to love him.

At first I followed the normal pattern of observing the regular times set apart for devotions and kept my mind on thoughts of death, judgment, heaven, hell and my sins. This I did for some years. And I applied my mind towards God not only in the hours of prayer and devotion but throughout the day, even in my work, always believing that God was with me and in me.

So this is the way I began. But I have to tell you, that for the first ten years I found it very difficult. I thought that I was not as devoted to God as I should be. My past sins seemed to be always pressing in on my mind. I fell often but would then get up again. It seemed sometimes as though everything, even God himself, was against me.

A Sudden Breakthrough

Throughout all this I still trusted God, but at the same time wondered if I had to look forward to these troubles and struggles for the rest of my life. Then, something happened suddenly that changed everything, and my troubled soul found a profound inward peace. Ever since that time I have simply walked before God in faith, with humility and with love and I apply myself diligently to do nothing that might displease him. I do what I can and then let him do with me whatever he wants.

So how can I describe what goes on in me? I am perfectly at peace with my situation. I want nothing but what God wants in things both great and small. I would not even take up a piece of straw from the ground, if I thought he did not want me to, but would run to pick it up out of love for him, if that is what he wanted.

I have put aside all set procedures for devotion and seek only to continue in his presence. I keep myself there by giving heed to what I pay attention to and by my fond regard of God. This brings a sense of God's actual presence that is constant and silent but at the same time a secret conversation of my soul with God. This brings me great joy and inner rapture. Sometimes I feel such an overflowing sense of God's presence that I have to deliberately find a way to restrain and subdue myself when others are nearby.

So What Have I Learned?

It has been thirty years now that I have had full confidence that my soul has been with God, and there are a lot of details I could spread out before you, but let me just tell you how I look at myself before God, my king. First of all I, have to admit that I consider myself the most wretched person.
I am full of sores and corruption, and I know that I have committed all kinds of offenses against my king. I truly feel bad about this and openly confess to him my wickedness and ask for his forgiveness.

Then I simply place myself in his hands, so that he may do whatever he wants with me. And here is the amazing thing that I find: this king is full of mercy and goodness. He does not chastise or condemn me as he might. But it is as if he comes and hugs me, full of love and has me eat at his table. He even serves me with his own hands and gives me the key to his treasures. He loves to talk with me and take pleasure in my company. He makes me feel, as if I am truly his favorite.

Being at the Bosom of God

So you can see, why my practice of devoting attention to God along with my passionate love for him produces such satisfaction. Even an infant at its mother’s breast can not match it. So I hesitantly call it a state of being at the bosom of God because it is so inexpressively sweet and pleasant. Yes, there are times my thoughts wander because of something that happens or through my own weakness but when I recognize it, I immediately redirect my attention to God. The thought sometimes comes to me that I am like a stone in the hands of a sculptor who is making a statue. I like to think of God, as the sculptor shaping me into his image.

There are times in prayer, when I find my spirit lifted up before God and kept in his presence without any effort on my part. I know some will say that this is a state of inactivity, delusion and self-love. I will concede that it is a kind of Holy inactivity, but I cannot accept that it is delusion or self-love—because the soul that enjoys God in this world is looking for nothing but God himself. So if this is delusion, then I think it God’s job to remedy it. As for me, I am content to let him do with me whatever he pleases. I only want to do, what he wants and give him all I have.

Yes, there are times when one can get away from the divine presence. When that happens, God recalls us—sometimes even when we are absorbed in our regular day to day activities. When we become aware of such prompting from God, then we must respond with a lifting of our heart to him, or by an affectionate thought of him, or by simple words to him expressing our love.

It is my conviction that the practice of the presence of God is the center of the spiritual life. Whoever truly practices it will soon become spiritual. But to truly practice it, the heart must empty out everything else, so God alone may possess the heart and do whatever he wants with us. There is nothing in all the world that we can find in life more pleasant and joyful then a continual conversation with God. Those who never experienced it cannot understand. But it is not for the pleasure to be gained that we should seek God's presence, but pursue it out of love for him
and because God wants us to.

If I were a preacher, I would above everything else preach the practice of the presence of God. If I were a spiritual director, I would advise the same. So necessary I think it to be—and so easy, too.

If we really knew how much we needed the grace and assistance of God, we would never let him out of our sight. No, not for a moment.

No Fear, Holy Freedom, Avoid Excess

While I am with him, there is nothing that I fear. The practice of God's presence is not physically exhausting. But at the same time we should deny ourselves some other legitimate pleasures, in order to more fully devote ourselves to him. I do not mean by excessive disciplines. Remember, we serve God in a holy freedom. Also keep in mind, that he expects us to carry out our everyday responsibilities without trouble or disquiet.

It is not necessary to be in church to be with God. We may make an altar of our heart to which we can go from time to time to converse with him in meekness, humility, and love. When we make him the center of our life and attention, then, even the sufferings we endure can be seen in a positive way and provide a certain satisfaction. The paradox is this: With God, even suffering can be pleasant but without him, even life's greatest pleasures can be as a cruel punishment.

We must learn to grow in God's presence by a process. It is step-by-step. Do not be locked into rigid formulas or rules or particular forms of devotion. Do not try to go faster than grace. One does not become holy all at once.

We cannot expect to escape the many dangers around us without God's help. So, we need to pray to him for his help continually. How can we pray to him without being with him? How can we be with him, if we do not think of him often? And how can we think of him often, unless it is a holy habit in our lives? You may think I repeat this too much. But this is the best and easiest way I know. We must know before we can love. In order to know God we must often think of him. When we come to love him, we shall also think of him often, for our heart will be with our treasure.

So, think of God all the time—during the day, at night, in your daily work, even in your leisure time activities. He is always nearby. Do not ignore him. If you had a friend nearby, you would not ignore him when he came to visit. Why then would you neglect God? In short, do not forget him. Think of him often. Adore him continually. Live and die with him. As Christians, this is our job and calling. This is what we are here for. It is glorious!

How to Look at Pain and Sickness

I do not pray that you will be delivered from your pains, but I do pray sincerely that God will give you strength and patience to bear them, as long as he pleases. The world, of course, cannot understand this. They see no good at all in sickness and pain. But those who understand that sickness can be used by God to advance his purposes, can find in it great sweetness and true consolation. In fact, we can go so far, as to say that God is sometimes nearer to us in sickness than in health.

He can use diseases of the body to bring healing to the soul. God knows what we need, and all that he does is for our good. If we really knew how much he loves us, we would be ready to receive anything from his hand, the good and the bad, the sweet and the bitter, as if it did not make any difference. So, be satisfied with your condition even if it is one of sickness and distress. Take courage. Offer your pain to God. Pray for strength to endure; adore him even in your infirmities!

I do not know what God is going to do with me. I am happy all the time and bear with whatever comes my way. I know I deserve the most severe discipline, and yet I find that I am filled with joy continually, joy that is sometimes so great I can scarcely bear it.

Brother Lawrence

Following his death M. Beaufort (Grand Vicar to M. De Chalons, formerly Cardinal de Noalilles) authored a book in which he recorded what Brother Lawrence had told him over the course of several conversations; in his book he also included a number of letters written by Brother Lawrence.

* That in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and considering that within a little time,
the leaves would be renewed, and after that the flowers and fruit appear, he received a high view of the Providence and Power of God, which has never since been removed from his soul.

* That this view had perfectly set him loose from the world and kindled in him such a love for God, that he could not tell whether it had increased in over forty years that he had lived since.

* That he had been footman to M. Fieubert, the treasurer, and that he was a great awkward fellow who broke everything.

* That he had desired to be received into a monastery, thinking that he would there be made to smart for his awkwardness and the faults he should commit, and so he should sacrifice to God his life, with its pleasures: but that God had disappointed him, he having met with nothing but satisfaction in that state.

* That we should establish ourselves in a sense of GOD’s Presence, by continually conversing with Him. That it was a shameful thing to quit His conversation, to think of trifles and fooleries.

* That we should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of God; which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him.

* That we ought to quicken, i.e., to enliven, our faith. That it was lamentable we had so little; and that instead of taking faith for the rule of their conduct, men amused themselves with trivial devotions, which changed daily. That the way of Faith was the spirit of the Church, and that it was sufficient to bring us to a high degree of perfection.

* That we ought to give ourselves up to God, with regard both to things temporal and spiritual, and seek our satisfaction only in fulfilling His will, whether He lead us by suffering or by consolation, for all would be equal to a soul truly resigned.

* That we needed fidelity in those drynesses, or insensibilities and irksomenesses in prayer, by which God tries our love for Him; that there was the time to make good and effectual acts of resignation by us, whereof one alone would oftentimes very much promote our spiritual advancement.

* That as for the miseries and sins he heard of daily in the world, he was so far from wondering at them, that, on the contrary, he was surprised there were not more, considering the malice sinners were capable of: that for his part, he prayed for them; but knowing that God could remedy the mischiefs they did, when He pleased, he gave himself no further trouble.

* That to arrive at such resignation as God requires, we should watch attentively over all the passions which mingle as well in spiritual things as those of a grosser nature: that GOD would give light concerning those passions to those, who truly desire to serve Him.

* That if this was my design, viz., sincerely to serve God, I might come to him (Bro. Lawrence) as often as I pleased, without any fear of being troublesome; but if not, that I ought no more to visit him.