Two volumes contain the record of a series of personal and group instructions given to a small group of aspirants over a period of fifteen years by a Master of the Wisdom. They contain detailed teachings on Meditation, Initiation and the Six Stages of Discipleship. They emphasise the new age pioneering necessity for group work, the development of group consciousness, and the change in training for initiation from individuals to discipleship groups.
Of the few specialised subjects included in these books by Alice Bailey and the Tibetan, education is of primary importance. Today we are losing the tendency to associate education only with the instruction of the young and with academic matters. Education is, or should be, a continuous process from birth to death concerned not so much with the acquisition of knowledge as with the expansion of consciousness. Knowledge of itself is a dead end, unless it is brought into functioning relationship with environment, social responsibilities, historical trends, human and world conditions and, above all, with the evolution of consciousness which brings the infinite vastness of an unknown universe within the range of the finite human mind. To oversimplify, can we say that education is a continuous process of learning how to reconcile the human and the divine elements in the constitution of man, creating right relationship between God and man, spirit and matter, the whole and the part? If this is education in the broader sense, it is more specific and more concentrated when considered in the light of child training. This book is so concentrated and specific. spirit, soul and body as an integ ated unity, and acceptance of the planetary whole as the area of personal experience and responsibility - the educational needs of the child today are set out in specific terms. Faults and inadequacies in the present educational systems existing in many parts of the world are enumerated, and methods for the future suggested. Emphasis is placed on the need for education in world citizenship. Even before this book was first published this need had become startlingly apparent. It is also clear, however, that since children naturally tend to accept without question those of other nations, other races, colour, belief and social background, a world consciousness and inclusiveness must first be generated in those adults responsible for the education and the training of the young. Therefore, this book includes a brief final chapter on the science of the Antahkarana' that is, with the creative effort to bridge in consciousness between the lower analytical, knowledge-gathering mind, the soul, and the higher mind which is an aspect of the divine Self, the spiritual man. meditation technique, combined with the effort to apply spiritual principles to the daily life under any and all circumstances. The building of the Antahkarana, literally a bridge between the subjective and objective worlds, creates a channel for the transmission of spiritual energies - light and love and power. These energies transform the daily life, irradiate the personality and infuse the mind with creative thought consistent with the needs of the emerging Plan at the dawning of a new age. So the enlightened adult can stimulate the soul of the child, enrich and enliven the mind, and provide right opportunities for full development of the spiritual potential. The books of Alice A. Bailey, written in cooperation with a Tibetan teacher between 1919-1949, constitute a continuation of the Ageless Wisdom--a body of esoteric teaching handed down from ancient times in a form which is always suitable to each period. Intended to precede and condition the coming era, the Alice A. the teaching on Shamballa and the Path of spiritual evolution; the spiritual Hierarchy; the new discipleship and training in meditation as a form of service; the teaching on the seven rays and the new psychology of the soul; the teaching on esoteric astrology; and the new world religion, which emphasizes the common thread of truth linking all the major world faiths.
World Glamour, the sum total of human ignorance, fear and greed, can dissipate through the clear, inclusive thinking of those in whom the soul (Christ) principle is awakening. Glamour results from a negative emotional focus. The dissipation of glamour depends on 'illumined thinking'.
Many religions today expect the coming of an Avatar or Saviour. The second coming of the Christ, as the world Teacher for the age of Aquarius, is presented in this book as an imminent event, a continuity of divine revelation throughout the ages. The Christ belongs to all mankind, and can be known and understood as, the same great Identity in all the world religions.
"A must-read for any Bailey student, anyone interested in the New Age movement, and for those who wonder, amidst our confused and divided world, where will it all end?" - Steven Chernikeeff, author of Esoteric Apprentice From tragic beginnings as an aristocratic orphan to becoming the mother of the New Age spiritual movement, Alice A. Bailey is one of the modern era's most misunderstood occult figures. Bailey's journey is a story of faith, from orthodox Christian beginnings, through a protracted spiritual crisis, to a newfound belief in Theosophy. A mystic and a seeker, a founder of global spiritual organizations, and a surmounter of adversity, Bailey's past is rife with injustices, myths, and misconceptions - including that she was an anti-Semite and a racist with a dark agenda. With scandals and controversies laid bare, Bailey's extraordinary life is revealed as a powerful, remarkable legacy.
Six basic world problems, with many ramifications, continue to present humanity with opportunity for progress. A perspective on these problems is shown in this book. The spiritual factors and subjective causes are related to outer appearances and effects on the world scene.
Throughout the books of Alice Bailey we frequently come across arresting suggestions and ideas. Many of these are brought together in this book. Arranged in alphabetical subject order they form an ideal introduction to the books as a whole. Topics include: The Ancient Mysteries, Courage, Crisis, Guidance, Joy, Mind, The New Age, Visualisation.
