148 SKETCHES OF GEEAT TRUTHS

the more this power developes, the power to
draw people in, closer, more at one, to work as a
whole. It is part of the spirit of Self-dedication.
In younger days (younger in evolution) there is
a tendency to keep all to yourself, to shut out
others, there is a subtle reason for this, and it
is worth considering; the beginning of Self-
dedication is very half-hearted, it is a selfish
process in one sense which is in itself the
reverse of dedication. For dedication is some-
thing entire. Self-dedication comes step by
step, and is worthy only of the name when self
is forgotten in work for the Self, and this is not
learned in a day nor in a life-time. It hinges
on our attitude and outlook on life, and seems to
me to evolve in stages very slowly; possibly
a good test to apply from time to time is the test
of how many chains have we loosened, how
many moorings have we been able to cut.

We offer ourselves, we forget the chains, we
mean it at the time, but we find ourselves bound,
and that we have not the power to offer or to
give that which is bound. "Bound by the chain
of our sins" puts it crudely but exactly. We
have bound ourselves in past lives, and it is
only as we free ourselves that we can offer
ourselves; this can only be done bit by bit.
In our zeal we offer all, we have not really all