entiles, and kings, and children of Israel. For I will show him
how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.'

"And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his
hands on him, said: 'Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto
thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive
thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.' And immediately there fell
from his eyes, as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and
arose and was baptized."

Like all those who have entered cosmic consciousness, Paul sought the
blessing of solitude, that he might readjust himself to his changed
viewpoint, since he now saw things in the light of the larger
consciousness.

He says:

"Immediately I conferred, not with flesh and blood; neither went I up to
Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went away into
Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus."

The irresistible longing to get away from the sights and sounds of the
external world, is one of the most characteristic phases of Illumination.
It is only in order that they may take up the work of bringing to others
this great blessing that those who have entered into the larger
consciousness, eventually bring themselves to enter the life of the world.

Thus, we find that Paul's great desire to bring the light to others, took
him again to Damascus; and from the records we have of his utterances and
his mode of living, we may gather some idea of the great change which
Illumination made in him.

Certain statements, which characterize all who possess cosmic
consciousness, in any degree of fullness, emanate from the converted Paul.
He says:

"I must needs glory though it is not expedient, but I will come to visions
and revelations of the Lord--for if I should desire to glory I shall not be
foolish; for I shall speak the truth; but I forbear, lest any man should
account of me above that which he seeth me to be, or heareth from me. And
by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations--wherefore that I
should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,
a messenger of Satan to buffet me."

One of the characteristics of the Illumined is a deep humility. This is
not in any sense an abasement of the self; not in any sense a feeling that
it is necessary to "bow down and worship;" nor yet a tinge of that nameless
fear, which the carnal-minded self feels in the presence of exalted