A devil: These are different entities

A devil: These are different entities
II.4 The adversaries of good and the mystery of evil Each cultural period is marked by a secret of human development. Our present cultural period demands of man the confrontation with evil, but also brings the revelation of the secret of good and evil (B144, p. 248ff). Only the adversaries of good give man the possibility of freedom of choice between good and evil. Where adversaries of man appear in order to make freedom possible for him, this can lie in the will of the world plan. Where the adversaries cross the boundaries of this world plan, they reach a new quality, that of evil. For man, the understanding of good and evil is therefore connected with the recognition of the spiritual development impulses of man and cosmos (B144, p.255). "Evil occurs when man, as an individual or as a community, strays from conformity with the progressive impulses of the cosmos. For there is no evil in itself. All evil is not absolutely real, but arises when something that is in some way good is used in the world in a way that is not appropriate. Thus a good is turned into an evil", (B145, 25.8.1913) and (B144, p.255). The developmental impulses of humanity are connected with its wise guidance and leadership, with the masters of the white lodge (Chapter "The Guidance of World Development: The White Lodge"). These also want to take into the development of mankind what is justified in the work of the adversary beings. "The Masters are not a protective wall against evil, but leaders for the absorption of evil. We are not to separate evil, but to absorb it and use it in the sphere of good ... there is no evil. Evil is only a displaced good. Only with knowledge is spiritual alchemy possible" (B144, p.257). In the world plan beings were "detached" in order to appear as opponents of the world development. Their task is to make freedom possible for the people. But these beings can also exceed the limits of their task. There they reach a new quality of evil (B145, 25.8.1913). Where beings cannot achieve the desired development, where they stay behind, they move away from the world plan and also develop effects of evil. In today's cultural epoch it is the task of man to gain knowledge of the spiritual impulses of development. From this knowledge, he can then learn to understand the secret of good and evil. So the aim of evil will be to leave man in ignorance about the fact that there is a spiritual world, that there can be a world plan, that there are beings that can do well and therefore also the ignorance of the fact that there can be adversaries or evil beings. People are easier to be manipulated when they do not know that they are being manipulated and then also deny to themselves that the one who manipulates them can exist at all. Evil1 unfolds its effect where it tries to keep people in the dark about their existence. It should be prevented that the person understands the evil. Evil cannot be explained from the effect of nature either, but only from the spiritual being and becoming of the world, the world of gods and man. The evil is to be found in the world that surrounds us and also in man. It is not a mechanical reaction to a process that is outside of us, but an intelligent, essential reaction that follows its own will and its own idea. At the old Saturn the possibility of the release of the beings from the actual world plan begins. First beings remain behind in their development (see Asuras) and the sacrifice of the thrones (the will substance flowing out of them) is not fully accepted by the cherubim. A part of the sacrificial substance remains free, which can be used by the adversary beings against the justified development. So there is evil that is godly. Because gods have set this up so that this which is evil can work, among other things to give man the space to decide for the gods or against them2. For freedom there must also be the possibility of choice. But man cannot now say to himself, well the evil in me is also a matter for the gods. Today, every decision, every thought, every behaviour, doing or not doing is also an ego decision of man for good or evil. The human ego is a drop from the divine original source, to which opposing powers have no direct influence, they cannot penetrate the ego. Therefore they fight the human ego. But today, man himself is responsible for the development of the ego; he must take care of the protection and development of his own ego and the ego of his fellow human beings. In contrast to this, it is the aim of the opponents to find people who are completely addicted to them so that they do their will (B143, 6.10.1913). Evil has no creative principle or forces in the cosmos of its own accord. It only tries to manipulate and distract the already existing for its goals. It distorts and demonises the existing. It can only achieve its powerful effects with the help of the people it seduces. It is not easy for people to talk about evil, because evil is also part of us. In so far as we make ourselves aware that evil has a part in us and I have a part in the evil of the world through my thoughts and actions, it helps me. Evil can especially flourish where the fellow human being is not left free, where selfishness replaces love and where untruth prevails. It is the destiny assigned to mankind by the spiritual leaders to have to fight their way with adversaries. What this gives to mankind is the necessity to develop much stronger forces and greater abilities in its development than would be possible without the work of the adversaries. From "Man" page 294
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