The Reverential Life focuses on the development of our relationship to the divine through the feeling function. It gives an individualized, practical approach to honest communion with the Sacred through intelligent prayer, rational devotion, and informed, mature humility. A wonderful resource of aspirations, devotions, and practical techniques for reducing the ego's obstructive arrogance, it is first a section to be drawn upon for inspiration and only secondarily a text to be studied.
Because this section addresses primarily the feelings, we suggest that the reader begin by reading randomly until a para catches the attention; then pause, let the idea or suggestion sink in. Continue reading in this fashion until a mood of reverence, reflection, or aspiration awakens. In this way, the reading will be a good preface to one's meditation period. Done regularly and over a period of time, the depth and power of the insight behind these little paras will begin to have a positive effect on the meditations and in daily living.
The feeling function, by its own nature, learns in a cyclic rather than linear fashion. Only through creative repetition are the feelings transformed from the level of unreflective emotions to that of the subtlest sensitivity to Spirit. The way we learn to appreciate music, or a particular piece of music, illustrates this principle. For this reason, frequent small and inspiring doses of the material in this section may prove very helpful to the quester's daily practice. As the material becomes more familiar and certain questions naturally arise, or if there is a desire to concentrate on a specific practice--of prayer or devotion or humility or surrender--then the organization of the paras into specialized groups will be helpful.
One theme that runs throughout this material is the double standpoint of the ego and the higher self. What role does self-effort have in evoking Grace? Can the ego really teach itself humility? Can it really surrender without the help of Grace? P.B. addresses each of these themes from a mystical perspective in the earlier chapters, and then from the viewpoint of philosophy in the final chapter on Grace.
Editorial conventions here are the same as stated in the introductions to Perspectives and The Quest. Likewise, (P) at the end of a para indicates that it also appears in Perspectives, the introductory volume to this series.