The student or interested reader who for the first
time, in books or on the Internet, begin
searching for information on esotericism or the Esoteric Tradition will be
faced with a plethora of conflicting claims and a seemingly endless stream of
fanciful and fantastic messages from ”Ascended Masters”. Scientifically and
philosophically educated students soon realize that the naive platitudes and
simple mysticism presented in much of this literature is of little interest,
except to scholars of Religion or Cultural History.
The problem is that hidden in this mass of popular
occultism and mysticism there is to be found a treasure trove of knowledge and
wisdom of a very different quality. A profound philosophy and Science of the Multiverse
that should be of interest to every intellectual humanist and academic scholar
looking for a worldview and lifeview that can present relevant and reasonable answers
to the deeper existential questions not given by orthodox theology, science or
philosophy. Furthermore this Science of the Multiverse or paradigm is a useful
tool as a working hypothesis to the investigator of UFO and paranormal
phenomena.
A complicating factor, even for those students who
have found The Philosopher´s Stone, is the difference in the level or quality
of presentation given by different authors. To my knowledge the best and intellectually
most articulate introduction to The Ancient Wisdom is written by the Swedish
esotericist Henry T. Laurency. In his writings he often laments the mistakes
made when esotericism was first publicly introduced to humanity, beginning in
1875 with The Theosophical Society:
” After 1875, esoteric facts have
been publicized. But just very few of these facts have yet been put into their
right contexts. Loose facts are worthless and too few facts will easily be
misleading. It is very deplorable that this “secret knowledge” at its first
appearance was given such an abortive presentation… The various theosophical
attempts at esoteric world view are incomplete to the extent of being misleading
(Sinnett and Judge), or all too one-sided (Leadbeater) to meet the demands of intellectuals
for an all-sided mental system. It is true that Blavatsky publicized a great
number of esoteric facts, but she did not bother to put them into comprehensible
contexts. Her writings (Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine) are certainly
gold-mines of facts, more resembling voluminous encyclopaedias, but are largely
inaccessible for those who have not acquired a system. Her inability to find a
terminology suitable for Western language usage makes it even more difficult to
study her writings… The concepts used
must be clearly defined. They must be part of Western language and scientific mode
of presentation. If you want to give knowledge to people, you must do it in
such a manner that they are able to comprehend it. Instead, there was a monstrous
mixture of symbolic sayings and unintelligible terminology with Sanskrit words
already misunderstood. ” (Henry T. Laurency, Knowledge of Life Two, online ed.
3.4:1,3,7)
For the novice in esoteric studies it is important
to have a clear understanding of the source of this knowledge, to realize who
are the actual custodians of the Ancient Wisdom. Although they are far ahead of
humanity in general in the evolution of consciousness and belong to the next or
fifth kingdom in nature, they are no hazy spooks in the astral world but most
of them men and women, presently incarnated in physical bodies working together
in a hidden or secret organization that has been given various names in
literature; Planetary Hierarchy, Inner Government, White Brotherhood, Elder
Brothers, Great White Lodge. The Tibetan adept D.K. who is the official
secretary and organizing contact man of this organization made this statement
in one of the books dictated to his amanuensis Alice Bailey: ”We who watch and
guide on the inner side, watch with loving care all of you who struggle in the thick
of the fray. We are like the General Headquarters Staff who follow the course
of the battle from a secure eminence. ”Alice Bailey, A Treatise of White Magic,
clothbound ed. p. 371).
Some of the books by Alice Bailey
Another important fact to consider is that this
organization has since 1775 made plans to reveal part of their knowledge for
the benefit of humanity and also decided that from 1875, as a test, disclose
the fact of their, hitherto unknown, existence and work on our planet. Eventually
they hope to be able to live openly in our society as teachers and guides. To
the mainstream intellectual and cultural elite, immersed in and limited by the
materialist, reductionist worldview such ideas are anathema or irrational fantasies,
unless they have entered the path of the scientific heretic and discovered that
there is a Forbidden Science.
In popular occultism the members of the Planetary
Guardians have often been presented in unrealistic and ridiculous ways,
uttering meaningless platitudes to spiritist mediums and channelers worldwide. The
critical and discerning student will immediately notice the difference in
intellectual quality between these messages and the teachings presented in
esoteric volumes. But we still have to contend with the limited knowledge,
ability and idiosyncrasies of the authors in contact with and working together
with members of the Planetary Guardians.
Especially as the information is not always dictated but ”inspired” in various
ways.
Alice Bailey is in this respect an interesting
example. Although she physically met and corresponded with her teacher, the
Tibetan D.K., her books were dictated clairaudiently or often only inspired
where Bailey used her own knowledge and terminology. As she early in life was a
Christian missionary many of her books use ideas and expressions from
Christianity but with an esoteric explanation. This can be very confusing and
frustrating at times, especially to readers with a scientific and critical mind
who simply want the facts without Christian symbols or quotes from the Bible.
Alice Bailey
Esotericist Henry T. Laurency makes some critical
comments on this problem when reading Alice Bailey: ” Everywhere
the former Christian missionary shines through who could never divest her mind
from old Christian fictions and who makes this colour her presentation… If
A.A.B:’s intention was to meet with approval among Christians by using their
terminology, she counteracts this effect by unnecessarily disclosing the import
of the symbols and depriving these readers of quite a few cherished illusions
and fictions. When A.A.B. speaks it is now the esoterician speaking, now the
Christian missionary who knows her Bible.” (Knowledge of Life Five, online ed.
7:2, 39). This comment is not made to belittle the tremendous work done by Bailey
but simply to explain the problems encountered by the teachers. The Tibetan is
very well aware of these shortcomings regarding his amanuensis and also that a
new and more adequate terminology is badly needed in esotericism.
The teachers belonging to the Planetary Guardians I
have sometimes, in a humorous mode, referred to as the Higher Intelligence Agency
(HIA). Theosophist Henry Steel Olcott, who knew several of them personally
often called them “the boys”. This attitude can be a useful antidote when
confronted with the often ridiculously devotional literature attributed to the
adepts. There is a quote regarding the lives of ”Masters” in Alice Bailey´s
book The Externalisation of the Hierarchy, that gives a good perspective of
this issue: ” They will stand forth as living examples of
goodwill, of true love, of intelligent applied wisdom, of high good nature and
humour, and of normalcy. They may indeed be so normal that recognition of what
They are may escape notice… I would here remind you that many of the Masters
are married and have raised families". (p. 699, clothbound ed.)
Referring to the Planetary Guardians as the Higher Intelligence Agency is in several respects an appropriate description as their work in many ways resembles the activities of the global Intelligence organizations. The Elder Brothers have their "safe houses" and are the custodians of an inaccessible library, archive and museum where the real history of our planet of sorrow can be studied. Possibly they also have a secret Vimana technology at their disposal. But most important of all, their work is a constant fight for the good, the true and the beautiful.
Referring to the Planetary Guardians as the Higher Intelligence Agency is in several respects an appropriate description as their work in many ways resembles the activities of the global Intelligence organizations. The Elder Brothers have their "safe houses" and are the custodians of an inaccessible library, archive and museum where the real history of our planet of sorrow can be studied. Possibly they also have a secret Vimana technology at their disposal. But most important of all, their work is a constant fight for the good, the true and the beautiful.
