How one adulterates a teaching
Ennio Dinucci….
President Brother and instructor (1990-2014)
"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry". Second Epistle from Paul to Timothy Chapter 4
The Esoterics magazine named "ROSACRUZ", which is quarterly issued by the Rosicrucian Fellowship in Portugal, an entity presumably affiliated to "THE ROSICRUCIAN FELLOWSHIP" located in the city of Oceanside, California, U.S.A., published in its April, May and June, 1995 issue, a curious article written by a lady whose name can often be found in the instructions issued by the U.S. Worldwide Headquarters and affiliated centers. Sections of that article, which have been transcribed here on basis of the mentioned Portuguese publication, are part of a lesson whose title is very suggestive: "The Immaculate Conception. Initiation through the Air". In addition to that article, we have read a number of others published by that entity, as well as a few others sent as "Monthly Philosophy Lessons", to the students of the "former Esoteric School in Oceanside", which after Mr. Max Heindel has passed away to the Spiritual Worlds, was renamed to be called the "NON-SECTARIAN CHURCH". The author of the referred to article published by the Portuguese affiliated center is Mrs. Corinne Heline (already deceased), founder and director of "The New Age Press Inc.", whose works have not only been adopted by the "U.S. Rosicrucian Fellowship", but placed at the same level as Mr. Max Heindel's teachings. Such unfortunate attitude taken by "The Rosicrucian Fellowship" clearly reflects on which basis Rosicrucian teachings have been construed, and disclosed to the students all over the world. There is no question for us to say - as articles talk for themselves - that the U.S. Headquarters and its affiliated centers still follow the same negative and ecclesiastic line as those who took over the control of the organization in 1919, at which time its direction, like the direction of the churches, celebrated weddings, baptisms and funerary services. For the past years the "Ecclesiastic Council" (title adopted at that time) changed its name into "Esoteric Council"; however, everything points to the fact that "The Rosicrucian Fellowship" is still the same "non-sectarian small church" tuned in with Mrs. Corinne Heline's ideas, its most prominent and "wisest" spokeswomen whose "Marian ideal" has - with no discernment - been grafted to the teachings left by Mr. Max Heindel.
We do not have as our intent to pass on the idea we know all the truth, or that our conclusions are the only ones to be taken into consideration, far from it. Our personal points of view quit existing in face of the excellence of the Rosicrucian teachings. We don't adore, neither are we enchanted by our own ideas, and we try to keep us mentally receptive and open to every and any "superior idea", no matter whoever it may come from. However, we don't agree with whoever's unfounded and whimsical opinions, and much less with the dreams and philosophical divagations of Mrs. Corinne Heline, and the Worldwide Headquarters in Oceanside, which when inheriting the physical assets of the organization, did not inherit the wisdom of the teachings bequeathed by its superb founder.
Numa passagem evangélica, os fariseus pedem a Cristo que repreenda os seus discípulos, provavelmente por não concordarem com eles, e o Mestre lhes respondeu: “Asseguro-vos que, se eles se calarem, as próprias pedras clamarão” (Lucas 19:40). Consideramo-nos os mais humildes discípulos de Cristo, porém, com o entendimento suficiente para não compactuar com interpretações absurdas que estão sendo dadas à Filosofia Rosacruciana. Com o intuito de que a Fraternidade Rosacruciana São Paulo (FRSP) não venha a ser acusada de conivência com a direção clerical e feminina que se apossou da sede central americana, ela vem a público pela primeira vez através da Internet, para denunciar aos verdadeiros estudantes, de todo o mundo, o adultério filosófico que está sendo praticado com os ensinos da Sabedoria Ocidental, da Ordem Rosacruz. A autoridade para fazer esta denúncia, tem como fundamento a própria Filosofia Rosacruciana, que há bastante tempo está sendo desfigurada e adulterada, lamentavelmente, por pessoas que não sabem o que estão fazendo. Queremos que fique bem claro que a FRSP é uma congregação dos “Filhos do Fogo”, portanto, não é uma igrejinha disfarçada. Ela não se apóia nos caprichos filosóficos de quem quer que seja, uma vez que seus ensinos são patrimônio sagrado da Ordem Rosacruz e dos mestres mais conceituados de todos os tempos, cuja autoridade ficou comprovada pela experiência pessoal e coletiva. A grande missão da FRSP é divulgar os ensinos da Ordem Rosacruz em toda a sua pureza, guardando-se de acrescentar às suas bases o produto infeliz da pretensão pessoal e da fantasia espiritualista. Ao ler as afirmações que serão transcritas adiante, o estudante consciente e independente, não terá dificuldade em perceber que, não é mais o ideal positivo, maçônico e masculino, que norteia os destinos da “Fraternidade Rosacruz de Oceanside”, mas as aspirações eclesiásticas dos “Filhos da Água”, enaltecendo a figura feminina da Virgem Maria, como um “ideal que todos os estudantes sérios devem ter em conta”.
It is not our intention to overshadow the Virgin Mary, as we have for her, the mother of the man Jesus, the highest respect and consideration, as it was through her and also through her husband Joseph - someone the author forgets to mention - both elevated initiate people, the most perfect physical vehicle one has ever been aware of has been organized; a vehicle which later on, together with the Vital Body, was delivered by Jesus to Christ's Spirit in the Baptism in the Jordan. However, we do not agree with the deification of her person, for she has not been recommended by Christ as a master to whom we should be subject; we do not invoke her name because according to the Gospel, there is one single Name that can and should be invoked, i.e.: Christ-Jesus! It was the clerical fantasies and the feminine ideal supported by a Sons of Water based church with no positive direction, which rose her up to the category of "Mother of God", crowning her as the Heaven's Queen, and turning her into a parallel power, with pretensions of having a power stronger than that of the Christ!
It is unbelievable an organization, which calls itself as a continuer of Mr. Max Heindel's work, is able to idolize a human figure, contradicting all the principles of the Torah and the Gospel, completely forgetting the words of the author of the Cosmos Rosicrucian Concept: "We should accept no other direction, but that from the Christ."
In one of the monthly philosophy lessons (May-June, 93), Mt. Ecclesia presents this "wonderful" lesson:
"Therefore, if we are to follow his steps (Jesus' steps) we should understand his work, and also the work of a God's messenger who has been often forgotten: the blessed Virgin Mary, or as she is warm-heartedly known, A Açucena de Israel (Israel's most beautiful flower)". Later, it is stated that: "Mary and Jesus are two ideals all serious students should take into account."
As far as we could understand when studying the Cosmos Rosicrucian Concept, the big and sublime mission assigned to Joseph and Mary ends with the physical birth of their son Jesus. If after his birth, and consequently after he has been raised, both continued working in the physical world and in the spiritual plans, it is something we don't know, as neither the Gospel or the Rosicrucian Order provided any explanation about it. On the other hand, we have been informed by Mr. Max Heindel that Jesus, when delivering his physical and vital vehicles to the Christ's Spirit, started to work in the Spiritual worlds, particularly by means of those who have connections with the churches, and behave themselves almost exclusively by Faith. Schools, on the other hand, are Christian Rosenkreuz's expressions, The Venerable Master of the "Sons of Cain", or "Sons of Fire", in which Reason and Will, their most pronounced characteristics, prevail. Even though such two streams have as a common objective to lead men to the Christ, we see no higher reasons to introduce into the teachings prepared for the Sons of Fire, the feminine, negative and ecclesiastic ideals, once we belong to the positive, masculine and Masonic stream. If the methods of the church should be used in the Esoteric Schools, such schools would not be necessary.
The big trouble that the "Sons of Fire" always had to face, particularly in the beginning of their activities, when they could not as yet count on any more consolidated experience, was associated with the preservation of their integrity as a "School", so the School would not be invaded or pervaded by the astute and Pharisaic mentality of the "Sons of Water".
We fully commune with the ideas presented by Mr. Max Heindel in his work "Freemasonry and Catholicism": "Thus, our opposition (to the Water method) is not personal, but spiritual, and to be fought with the weapon of the Spirit: the Reason. We firmly believe it to be for the everlasting good of mankind that the Masons should win" (the Fire stream)." In view of such statement, we do not understand why the "non-sectarian Church" of Oceanside insists on asserting that Virgin Mary is God's messenger, and that the serious students should take her into account. What message from God would have she brought to the men, and where such messenger has been presented, as the Gospel says a little or nearly nothing about her? No portion of the teachings of the New Testament includes any mention she would have had any participation in, or given any opinion at all about the reserved teachings given by Christ to his Apostles. We are sure that if we could hear the personal opinion of Jesus' mother, she would be contrary to such fantasist and sentimentalist ideas used by the scribes of Oceanside. The term "Israel's most beautil flower" is very appropriate to be used in the Churches of the Sons of Seth, as expressions of the maternal feeling, but never in Schools which call themselves as continuers of "Hiram Abif's' work", whose ideal is represented by "Christian Rosenkreuz", Superb Founder of the Rosicrucian Order!
Coming back to Mrs. Corinne Heline, one can see between the lines of her writings, an excited feminism, rather very common to all "spiritualist masters" - particularly in the United States - dominated by religious prejudices, which do not allow them to understand the hidden reasons which led Christ and the Rosicrucian order, besides other schools, to organize streams or egrégoras (chain) directed by men. We will surely be the target of criticisms and called as chauvinists by the excited feminists from Oceanside, or other parts of the world. It doesn't matter, for we give this label no importance. We are fully aware we are neither men nor women, but Spirits incarnated either in a masculine or feminine body. We have a great admiration and respect for our sisters, recognizing how much we owe them who, with feeling and sensibility typical to them, have extraordinarily fed our collective spiritual stream. They have given a huge contribution to the success of our School, and like the Vestals knew how to keep the "Sanctuary's Sacred Fire" lit, our sisters know how to feed the flame of Enthusiasm and Love to warm up our hearts! All of them, with no exception, have understood the big role they play in the world next to men, particularly in our collectivity! However, experiences lived in the past, as well as current ones, of which we are aware, have proved that all esoteric movements commanded by the feminine element, with no exceptions, ended by being deviated from their original line. The intellectual fantasy, together with sentimentalist dreams causes them to slip into a maternal regime, which is not consistent with the disciplinary method taken by a legitimate School.
It was what happened to The Rosicrucian Fellowship, after Mr. Max Heindel passed away to the spiritual worlds in January, 1919, and with the THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, succeeded by Annie Besant, when the biggest esoteric fantasy earlier in the 20th.century has been created. (Further details about this matter will be found in the work Awakening Years whose author is Mrs. Mary Lutyens, printed by Cultrix). At that time, the mentioned author was part to the Theosophical Society, and knew personally the young Jiddu Krishnamurti, who, according to Mr. C.W.Leadbeater and Mrs. Annie Besant's fantasies should become a new world's savior, just like Christ! That story was another deplorable episode, which confirms what spiritualist dreams can do, when an esoteric institution counts with no superior direction. It doesn't matter its members have a lot of culture, and have taken part in social and political movements, besides writing a number of works about occultism. Intellectual culture is not the same as Spiritual Understanding! We should further point out that many men having such mentality (aquatic) fit too much well to such movements, as despite of having become grown-men from a physical point of view, from a psychological standpoint they are still children who cannot dispose of maternal care!
Let's see a few sections of the article published on the magazine Rosacruz (from Portugal) written by the "outstanding author", Mrs. Corinne Heline. "At the day of Pentecost, the Virgin Mary and other disciples got to Christ's consciousness reign. Such reign is known by many designations. It is the Buddhist plan of Theosophy and Rosicrucian Life Spirit World". Such assertion does not correspond to reality. The second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles refers to the Holy Spirit coming, which is by no means the Life Spirit. There is a big difference between spiritual vibrations from the Abstract Mental World, where the Holy or Human Spirit is supported, and the very high vibrations from the Life Spirit World. We know on basis of Mr. Max Heindel's teachings, there are Nine Minor Initiations and Four Major Initiations. Other Schools show the same division. The Acts of the Apostles refer to the "Holy Spirit" coming to the disciples. As no power or faculty may come from outside but only from inside the man himself prepared for such an objective, that section must be understood as having an internal and deeper psychological meaning, i.e.: Becoming aware of the "Holy or Human Spirit" itself inside the human soul. It would be impossible to enter into the Abstract Mental World, unless the student would be supported on his own Human Spirit. It is the disciple's awareness that should raise him up to that plan, and not the plan come up to him. The sound heard and tongues of fire are symbols of an inner spiritual phenomenon. The word "Pentecost" (Pentekosté), deriving from the Greek word (Penta), refers to number five, which represents the fifth human principle of the Physical World: The Abstract Mind, over which the true "human" spiritual reality is set. The Day of Pentecost refers to the initiation in the Abstract Thought World (Third Heaven) and the Fifth Initiation, the same achieved by Saint Paul, as one can deduce from his teachings (II Epistle to Corinthians, Chapter 12, Versicle 2). The support of the Triune third aspect, whether macrocosmic whether microcosmic, is the Abstract Mental World.
The "big master" goes on: "We stated in a number of our works that Virgin Mary is the highest initiate who ever came to Earth in the feminine form, and such statement is now conveniently elucidated by means of her relationship with the Pentecost rite". What elucidation the "Acts of the Apostles" let to appear in such a regard, and who said to that lady that Virgin Mary was the highest initiate who ever came to Earth in a feminine form? Surely it was not Mr. Max Heindel in his works. He said no word about Mary being the highest Initiate the world has ever met coming in a feminine body. He only says she was a high initiate. He does not say either to which level she belonged. According to the Cosmo Rosicrucian Concept, he says the same about Joseph, and not even for this reason Joseph has been mentioned by the author, maybe because she does not feel for him the same admiration she felt for the Virgin, as the religious education she has probably received from the Roman church, exalts the figure of Mary, without giving any greater attention to her husband Joseph! Isn't it regrettable that fantastic dreams of the sons of water have been able to pervade into the higher teachings of the Sons of Fire? Here another assertive in which the author finds an outlet for his excited clerical fantasy, which finds no serious philosophical confirmation: "An old Aramaic legend makes reference to the fact that the divine child was, by the time of his introduction into the temple, baptized with the name of Jesus-Mary, what means the union of the masculine and feminine principles in a perfect balance, and Jesus has developed the androgynous (hermaphroditic) body, the body of the future humanity."
A stupendous assertion! In the Evangel by Luke, chapter 2:21, one finds a passage referring to the choice of the name given to the divine child: "On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the Angel gave him before he had been conceived". We see from the foregoing that the Evangel makes no mention to the name "JESUS-MARY". Only the tale found by Mrs. Corinne Heline - God knows where - is that makes such a statement. It should also be noticed that Jesus has not been taken to the Temple to be baptized, but circumcised, according to the custom of the Jewish people. His baptism took place many years later, when Jesus was thirty. We absolutely do not agree with the gratuitous affirmation that "Mary and Jesus represent the union of the two principles - "masculine and feminine" - in a perfect balance". The author made a mistake, as the perfect balance can only be established by means of the number three (3). Pythagoras said: "Likewise there are three divine notions and three intelligible regions, there is also a triple Word, because the hierarchical order is always manifested by three" (3). In view of the foregoing, the perfect balance could only be established on basis of the three evangelic characters, JOSEPH, MARY and JESUS, and it is in such a regard they should be considered because they have a huge, fundamental importance!
JOSEPH symbolizes the positive and masculine faculty of the WILL.
MARY symbolizes the negative and feminine faculty of the IMAGINATION.
JESUS is the symbol of the fruit or son that should emerge from the higher union of these two principles, as the Imagination without the Will is sterile, and could never bring forth to a higher creation! Can a woman become pregnant without a man? The same is true at a psychological level and the analogy law is there to confirm that principle. Only Mrs. Corinne Heline, deemed by the coryphaeus of Oceanside, as one of the first Max Heindel's disciples, could make such absurd assertion. As it seems, our author forgot - or did not want to give due importance - to the symbol represented by Joseph, i.e., the Will, the very special faculty of every true Son of Fire, which is guided by the Reason directed by the Will. There are lots of other assertions, which unveil the defects of the psychological view of that Lady. Many other gratuitous statements will still be made, as the editor of the mentioned magazine (Rosacruz) promises to give continuance to the publications.
Nossa intenção não é polemizar nem atacar quem quer que seja, entretanto, somos do parecer que assumimos uma grande responsabilidade moral e espiritual, quando falamos ou escrevemos a respeito dos ensinos evangélicos e rosacrucianos que não são da nossa autoria. Estamos ceifando onde não semeamos como disse o nosso Salvador. A nossa obrigação é de não contribuir para encher o mundo com idéias próprias e fantasistas, que mais confundem do que esclarecem, mas sim difundir corretamente os ensinos superiores que nos foram legados com tanta generosidade. Vivemos na época da “Internet” e a FRSP, que até então tem limitado suas denúncias aos estudantes brasileiros, doravante, publica-las-á em português e inglês, para que boa parte do mundo tome conhecimento dos desmandos filosóficos protagonizados por qualquer instituição que se diga esotérica. Especialmente a THE ROSICRUCIAN FELLOWSHIP com sede em Oceanside nos Estados Unidos da América. É inadmissível que os ensinos da sublime Escola de Mistérios dos Rosacruzes sejam torcidos e desvirtuados ao sabor dos caprichos da moda e da mentalidade fantasista dos escribas e fariseus contemporâneos. Tudo parece indicar que a organização de Oceanside esqueceu que da Ex-Escola Esotérica fundada pelo Sr. Max Heindel procede a notável obra, Maçonaria e Catolicismo, a qual parece não ter sido bem compreendida, pois a preocupação em enaltecer a Virgem Maria ocupa um lugar de maior destaque. É nosso dever avivar a memória das suas diretoras com alguns trechos desse livro, pois o olvido dos seus princípios transformou a Escola dos Filhos do Fogo, numa igrejinha adúltera e irresponsável, onde os Filhos da Água pontificam.
Portions excerpted from the work of Mr. Max Heindel - FREEMASONRY AND CATHOLICISM.
"The author is not a Mason, and thus he is free to say what he knows, without fear of violating obligations; but he is a Mason at heart, and therefore frankly opposed to Catholicism." (Water Line)
"We firmly believe it to be for the everlasting good of mankind that the Masons should win." (Fire Line)
"The Churchman always emphasizes the necessity of faith, while Statesman emphasizes, and places his reliance on work. But when faith flowers into work we reach the highest of expression."
"Mankind can and should admire the feeling elevation and the oratory bright; but, while a Lincoln breaks the chains which locked a slaved race, or a Luther rebels in behalf of the oppressed spirits of the mankind, and secures them the religious freedom, the manifestation of such emancipators unveils a soul beauty, which is not found in those who elevate themselves to the clouds, but fear staining their hands in the mankind temple work."
"Nowadays, the temples of the "Sons of Seth", have at their doors the magic water and everyone who enters should assignalize with the lethal (mortal) liquid his forehead where the Spirit resides. His reason is drown in dogmas and traditions, and the feminine ideal is symbolized by the cult to the Virgin Mary."
"Faith is the major factor of his salvation, and the childish attitude and blind obedience is advised."
"Much different are the temples of "Cain's Sons", where the candidate enters "poor, naked and blind". It is asked him what he is looking for, and if he answers he is looking for LIGHT, the master's duty is to give him what he asks, making him into a "Free-mason", or Son of Light. The master has also the duty to teach him how to work, and for emulation the example of Hiran Abiff, Artifice Master, is introduced to him as the masculine ideal."
"The exoteric (exterior) Masonry , which is only the husks of the Mystic Order formed by the Sons of Cain, has in modern times attracted the masculine element - with its positively polarized vehicles - and educated them in industry and statecraft, thus controlling the material development of the world. On the other hand, the Sons of Seth, constituting themselves the Priestcraft have worked their spell over the positive vital bodies of the feminine element to dominate spiritual development. And whereas, the sons of Cain working through "Freemasonry", and kindred movements, have openly fought for the temporal power, the Sons of Seth (the Priestcraft) have fought as strenuously and perhaps more effectively by stealth to retain their hold upon the spiritual development of the feminine element.
To the casual onlooker it would seem as if there were no decided antagonism between these two movements; but though Freemasonry of today is but a shell of its true ancient mystic self, and though Catholicism has been terribly tarnished by the touch of time, the war between both is as keen as ever."
"In conclusion, it may be well to sum up the points which have been made in these articles on Freemasonry and Catholicism, it being understood that the term "Catholicism" as here used does not refer to the Roman Catholic Church alone, "Catholic" being taken in the sense of Universal, so that the term includes all movements inaugurated by the Sons of Seth, the Priestcraft."
"The Sons of Seth, on the other hand, became the churchmen, upholding the feminine ideal symbolized by the Virgin Mary, and ruling their people by the magic water placed at their temple doors.
Various attempts have been made to unite the two streams of humanity, and emancipate them from their progenitors, Jehovah and Samael. With this end in view, the symbolical Temple was built according to the instructions of Solomon, the Son of Seth. Hiran Abiff, the Son of Cain, had to cast "the Molten Sea"; but the main object was frustrated as we have seen, and the attempt at unification proved abortive."
"Religion has been terribly tarnished in the course of time, its pristine purity has long since vanished under the regime of creed, and it is no longer Catholic, that is to say, Universal. Sects and "isms" have branched out in one direction and another."
"Christian Rosenkreuz was given charge of the Sons of Cain, who seek the Light of knowledge at the sacred fires of the Mystic Shrine. As the creative energy implanted by their Divine ancestor Samael caused Cain to work and originate, so this same spiritual urge prompts his descendants to work out their own salvation through the Fire of tribulations, and fashion for themselves the Golden "Wedding Garment", which is the "Open Sesame" to the Invisible World. And though the cleansing blood of Jesus is an absolute necessity to millions of weaker brothers, there can scarcely be any question when we assert that the more human beings engage in Mystic Masonry to consciously build this Temple of Soul, the sooner we shall see the second advent of Christ, and the stronger will be the race He shall rule by the law of Love".
We believe that when reading these lines written by Mr. Max Heindel in his outstanding work "Freemasonry and Catholicism", nobody can admit he would have any inclination towards priestcraft movements, which characterize the Sons of Seth, or that the School he founded would follow ecclesiastic or feminine guidelines symbolized by the Virgin Mary. In one of his letters written to the students, inserted later on in the book named "Teachings of an Initiate", the Venerable Instructor says, referring to the destiny of the organization he had founded: "So far we could not help the rigid and firm organization conditions at the Headquarters, but the association with no restrictions should remain free so one can achieve a higher spiritual growth and longer life. However, it is sad to consider that, although these are our intentions, a day will come when the Rosicrucian Fellowship (in Oceanside) will have the same destiny as all other movements: It will be tied up by rules, and power usurpation will cause the fellowship to get crystallized and disintegrated. But it is some kind of consolation to know that from its remains something bigger and better will emerge, like the fellowship emerged from other structures which had their utility, and are now about to be dissolved".
A profecia aconteceu! A direção maçônica, masculina e positiva dos “Filhos do Fogo” foi usurpada pela direção clerical, feminina e negativa dos “Filhos da Água”. A organização material continua existindo na forma de uma discreta arquitetura pintada de branco, ladeada de jardins bem cuidados; boa alimentação vegetariana, acomodações para hóspedes, vendas de livros e de imagens da nossa senhora, além de uma imagem afeminada que, segundo os dirigentes de Oceanside, seria a de um auxiliar invisível ou do mestre do Sr. Max Heindel. Como também não poderia deixar de acontecer, são celebrados ofícios dominicais (serviço), que mais se assemelham aos rituais religiosos desenvolvidos pela igreja católica. É perfeitamente visível, ao menos para aqueles que tem “olhos para ver” que, “Monte Eclesia”, apesar do seu visual harmonioso não passa de um corpo morto, pois o Espírito que a animava no passado partiu com o seu Insigne Fundador. O que Este talvez não esperava é que a sua profecia se realizasse tão cedo. A Escola desapareceu dando lugar a mais uma filial dos Filhos de Seth ou da Água. Bem disse o saudoso fundador da FRSP, Sr. Lourival Camargo Pereira, em um de seus artigos: “Uma Escola pode se degenerar e se transformar numa igrejinha, mas jamais voltará a ser uma Escola”.
São Paulo, october, 1995. (revised: april, 2004)
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