Behold the truth before you: A clean life, an open mind, a

pure heart, an eager intellect, an unveiled spiritual

perception, a brotherliness for one's co-disciple, a readiness

to give and receive advice and instruction, a loyal sense of

duty to the Teacher, a willing obedience to the behests of

TRUTH, once we have placed our confidence in, and believe

that Teacher to be in possession of it; a courageous

endurance of personal injustice, a brave declaration of

principles, a valiant defence of those who are unjustly

attacked, and a constant eye to the ideal of human

progression and perfection which the Secret Science (Gupta-

Vidya) depicts — these are the Golden Stairs up the steps of

which the learner may climb to the Temple of Divine Wisdom.

— H. P. Blavatasky, Collected Writings 12:591