Manly P. Hall — Lecture 263

“Try the Spirits” (June 22, 1980)

Detailed Summary

Manly P. Hall’s Lecture 263, “Try the Spirits,” delivered on June 22, 1980, is one of his late‑period teachings in which he blends ethical psychology, occult discernment, and the perennial warnings of the mystery schools. The lecture centers on a single biblical injunction—“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God”—and expands it into a comprehensive method for evaluating influences, impulses, doctrines, and personalities in daily life.

Hall uses “spirits” in the broadest esoteric sense: not merely supernatural entities, but attitudes, motives, trends, teachings, and inner promptings that shape human conduct. The lecture becomes a manual for discrimination—how to distinguish the constructive from the destructive, the authentic from the counterfeit, the luminous from the merely glamorous.

I. The Ancient Meaning of “Trying the Spirits”

Hall begins by explaining that in antiquity, “spirits” referred to forces behind appearances—the invisible causes shaping visible effects.

• In the mystery schools, students were trained to test every influence before accepting it.
• The “spirit” of a thing meant its quality, its intention, and its direction of motion.
• A teaching, a leader, a movement, or even a personal desire had to be examined for its moral tone and ultimate consequences.

He emphasizes that the ancients were not superstitious; they were psychologically observant. They understood that human beings are constantly acted upon by impulses—some arising from the soul, others from the personality, still others from collective pressures.

To “try the spirits” meant to discern the origin of these impulses.

II. The Modern Crisis of Discernment

Hall argues that modern society suffers from a collapse of discrimination.

• People accept ideas because they are fashionable, emotional, or convenient.
• The “spirits” of commercialism, propaganda, and glamour dominate public life.
• Individuals are overwhelmed by stimuli and rarely pause to examine the ethics or truth-value of what they absorb.

He notes that the contemporary world is filled with “false spirits”—movements that promise liberation but deliver confusion, teachers who claim enlightenment but lack integrity, and ideologies that appeal to fear or desire rather than wisdom.

The result is a culture vulnerable to deception, self-deception, and spiritual counterfeits.

III. The Ethical Test: The Spirit of Good Will

Hall insists that the first and most reliable test of any spirit is its ethical content. A true spirit:

• promotes kindness,
• reduces selfishness,
• increases responsibility,
• and leads to greater harmony.

A false spirit:

• inflames ego,
• encourages division,
• exploits credulity,
• or promises results without effort.

He stresses that no matter how mystical or glamorous an influence appears, if it does not improve character, it is not of the highest order.

IV. The Psychological Test: Motive and Consequence

Hall then turns to the inner life. Every impulse—whether a sudden enthusiasm, a mystical experience, or a new ambition—must be examined for:

• motive (why do I want this?)
• method (how will I pursue it?)
• consequence (what will it produce in myself and others?)

He warns that many “spiritual experiences” are actually emotional projections, wish-fulfillment, or psychic leakage from the subconscious.

The true spirit is calm, orderly, and constructive. The false spirit is excited, dramatic, or self‑aggrandizing.

V. The Intellectual Test: Consistency With Universal Principles

Hall emphasizes that genuine spiritual insight never contradicts:

• natural law,
• reason,
• or the ethical teachings of the great traditions.

If a doctrine demands blind obedience, rejects examination, or isolates the seeker from common sense, it fails the test.

He notes that many modern movements rely on emotional pressure or charismatic authority, but the ancient schools insisted on quiet reflection and rational coherence.

VI. The Social Test: What Does It Do to Community?

A true spirit strengthens:

• cooperation,
• mutual respect,
• and the dignity of all beings.

A false spirit produces:

• fanaticism,
• exclusiveness,
• or the belief that one group possesses special privilege.

Hall warns that spiritual pride is one of the most dangerous “spirits” of all.

VII. The Esoteric Test: The Spirit of Peace

In the deeper mystical sense, Hall teaches that the highest spiritual influences are always accompanied by peace—not passivity, but a profound inner equilibrium.

He contrasts:

• the peace of the soul, which is steady and luminous, with
• the excitement of the psychic nature, which is unstable and seductive.

The true spirit never compels; it invites. It never flatters; it clarifies. It never inflames; it illumines.

VIII. The Role of Karma and Personal Responsibility

Hall reminds listeners that each person attracts the spirits they are inwardly attuned to.

• A selfish person attracts selfish influences.
• A confused person attracts confusing influences.
• A sincere seeker attracts guidance appropriate to their level of integrity.

Thus, “trying the spirits” is not only about evaluating external forces—it is about purifying one’s own nature so that higher influences can reach us.

IX. Practical Method for Daily Discernment

Hall outlines a simple but powerful method:

1. Pause before accepting any impulse or teaching.
2. Examine its motive—does it arise from fear, desire, or goodwill?
3. Consider its consequences—does it build or destroy?
4. Compare it with universal ethical principles.
5. Observe whether it brings peace or agitation.
6. Test it through action—does it produce harmony in daily life?

This method, he says, is the foundation of all true occult training.

X. Conclusion: The Path of the Wise Disciple

Hall closes by affirming that the world is filled with voices—some noble, some misleading, some merely noisy. The disciple’s task is not to reject the world but to discern within it.

To “try the spirits” is to:

• protect the integrity of the soul,
• cultivate wisdom,
• and align oneself with the quiet, steady, benevolent forces that guide human evolution.

The true spirit is always recognized by its fruits: clarity, compassion, humility, and the gradual unfolding of inner strength.