Spirituality/General: Hope for the Future - The Emergence of the World Teacher

At the dawning of every new age, a great teacher is sent into the world to inaugurate that age and set in motion ideas which will lead humanity into its next step of spiritual development. Over 2,600 years ago, it was prophesized by Gautama Buddha that at the beginning of our current age a teacher would come into the world. A Buddha, like himself, would inspire and guide humanity into the creation of a brilliant golden civilization based on unity, justice and sharing. Now, in fact, all major religions are expecting the coming of a great one, though they call him by different names. The Christians await the Christ; Jews the Messiah; Hindus are looking for Krishna; Buddhists anticipate Buddha; and Muslims are awaiting the Imam Mahdi. Many believe these are different names for the same individual. Students of esoteric tradition know him as Lord Maitreya, and they, too, expect his imminent emergence.

Most of us have heard the expression "the new age," but what does that actually mean? This phrase is not something conjured up by new age groups. When we speak of ages, there is actually scientific proof indicating that our planet and its inhabitants do, indeed, move through cycles, or ages. One needs only to visit an observatory to validate the fact that our solar system takes approximately 26,000 years to move through all the major twelve constellations of the zodiac. Therefore, roughly every 2,000 to 2,500 years our sun comes into alignment with a major constellation. While our planet moves through that constellation, we are said to be in that particular "age" - that cosmic cycle.

It is important to note that as we move through an age, our planet and all living on it are subjected and influenced by the energies which stream from that particular constellation. The inherent energies of each constellation offer mankind the opportunity to step towards further growth. However, man's evolutionary stage during a specific cycle will determine how he will express those energies. And so it has been with our movement through each constellation since the beginning of time, and will continue until the total evolution of our planet is perfected.

Take as an example the age of Pisces. For the last 2,000 years our planet has moved through this constellation, and has become saturated with its energy. This energy has created the world we know today, and its influence has resulted in a great step forward for humanity. Under the Piscean dispensation, the major energy of influence was the energy of idealism and devotion, which has affected our living in all economic, political, social and religious areas. For instance, the Piscean energies have helped us move away from the herd mentality, resulting in a more developed sense of individuality. Also, the quality of idealism, which leads to vision and aspiration we see so prevalent today, is a result of Pisces. This energy has been responsible for the growth of ideologies and religions. We have also witnessed during this age the development of a devotional and mystical approach to divinity. These two developments, individuality and idealism, were unthinkable 2,000 years ago at the beginning of the Piscean cycle.

As our sun moves away from its sphere of influence, the energies of Pisces recede. Approximately for the next 2,000 years our planet will receive an influx of Aquarian energies, gathering each day in increasing potency. These energies will naturally condition our growth and will create, through us, the new Aquarian civilization. It is predicted that humanity during this new cycle will take another major leap forward in growth. With the element of air governing Aquarius, there is an expected shift towards the development of the mind. Not only will we believe in God, which was a significant development during the Piscean dispensation, but we will develop a growing, conscious awareness of divinity.

The Aquarian energies will also have a synthesizing effect upon the planet. Over the next 2,000 years mankind is likely to achieve a greater awareness of the interconnectedness of all things. With the aid of Aquarian energies, life on this planet will exemplify greater unity and brotherhood.

Historically, as one age ends and another begins, as we are currently witnessing today, it marks a critical time for humanity and a time of chaos and turmoil. The structures/systems/beliefs which we created as a result of the energetic influence of Pisces will no longer be supported. Thus, these structures crystallize and over time die out. This is an extremely difficult period for mankind, because we hold so dear to the past. However, the old adage "it is the darkest just before the dawn" seems fitting to use at this crucial period in time. It makes perfect sense that mankind at this point would benefit greatly from the guidance of a great teacher.

There is another important note aside from the energetic effect of each constellation. Historically at the beginning of every new age a great teacher is sent into the world to demonstrate to humanity the next step forward. In truth, there has never been an age without the arrival of such a teacher. Jesus inaugurated the Piscean cycle, just as Krishna inaugurated the age of Aries; Mithra, the age of Tauras; Rama, the age of Gemini; and so on. Consequently a teacher is also expected to sound the note for the Aquarian Age. Many now expect a great redeemer to come and save the world. The esoteric tradition recognizes him as Lord Maitreya.

What is the esoteric tradition and how does it relate to the Aquarian Age? The origin of esoteric tradition, also referred to as the Ageless Wisdom teachings, dates back far beyond Christianity or any other religion. Since the dawn of time these teachings, although fundamentally unaltered, have adapted over time, to suit man's development in each particular age. Until recently, they have generally been released into the world by the master to his pupil by word of mouth. Yet over the last 100 years, these teachings have been given publicly. The dispensation of these teachings are coming our way in three phases and are expected to be a vital philosophy for our development throughout the Aquarian age.

The preparatory phase of the teachings was given to the public from 1875-1890 by a founder of the Theosophical Society Helena Petrovna Blavatsky in her book The Secret Doctrine. The intermediate phase was provided by an English occultist, Alice A. Bailey, who from 1919 to 1949 wrote a series of books under the guidance by a member of hierarchy known as the master Dwal Khul. The whole purpose of the Bailey material is to help disciples prepare the way for Lord Maitreya. The revelatory and final phase of these teachings has not yet been given. We are told this phase would emerge after 1975.

What is the foundation of the Ageless Wisdom teachings? First of all, the teachings are not a religion, although all religions today are founded on their basic principles. The teachings include the study of energy; of man and his relationship with himself, spirit and the universe; the role man has played in the past and what he will play in the future; the existence and nature of spiritual realms; that the reality of human destiny is guided by a supreme power; that there is a divine plan for our planet and that man plays a role, however small; and that our planet is overseen by a spiritual hierarchy.

Is Earth really governed by a spiritual hierarchy? According to the teachings, since the beginning of time our evolution has been lovingly guided, mainly from behind the scenes, by a group of highly evolved spiritual teachers of whom Lord Maitreya is the head.

The teachings lead us to understand that the Christ is not the personal name of an individual, but rather a title/function in our spiritual hierarchy. Esoterically speaking, the present holder of that function is Lord Maitreya, who was the Christ for the Piscean age. Not only will Lord Maitreya be the teacher to inaugurate the Age of Aquarius, but he will maintain his position as the Christ.

Whoever holds the position of the Christ embodies the Christ Principle, the energy of God's love. When we speak about this type of love, it is not mean as the affectionate love one has for another. Rather divine love is a powerful, magnetic force which binds and holds our cosmos together. Our solar system would fall apart, literally disappear, without this magnetic energy we call love. The Christ embodies this divine energy, which is much different than experiencing or channeling it. It is to BE that energy; which is something entirely different.

The Christ establishes love in the world by embodying it in his own Being. His task is to establish the nature of God's love in each and every one of us. The Christ has the capacity to transmit divine love into the world and does so daily with tremendous potency, whether we are aware of it or not. His radiation encompasses all of humanity. The Christ principle is the consciousness principle, which is the nature of the soul. Maitreya is the embodied soul of humanity.

Again, the Christ is a hierarchal function. Now you may be wondering if the Christ of our spiritual hierarchy is also Jesus. Here is a concept which may be the most difficult claim for most to accept. The teachings lead us to understand that the Christ and the master Jesus are actually two separate Individuals. The teachings say that Jesus did walk the planet 2,000 years ago during the age of Pisces. However, Lord Maitreya, who held the position as the Christ during the Piscean age, was Jesus' teacher. Lord Maitreya overshadowed and worked through his disciple Jesus for three years, from the baptism to the crucifixion. For these three years, the disciple Jesus became Jesus the Christ. Overshadowing, as did the Christ to Jesus, is a literal surrendering of your physical, emotional and mental vehicle temporarily to the master. Yet, in this current time, Lord Maitreya is expected to return, not in overshadowing a disciple, but in His own full physical appearance.

Lord Maitreya (The Christ) stands at the head of an enlightened group of individuals known as the Masters of Wisdom. A master is a human who has passed through all the experiences that life in this world has to offer, and in the process, has acquired total mastery over himself. A master has treaded the long journey of consciousness and eventually becomes "perfected." Perfected means he is no longer bound by the cosmic laws of karma or rebirth. As a great service to us, some masters choose to remain with us on earth, as we, too, move along the path towards perfection. The masters guide and teach, but never infringe upon our own free will. Until recently, they have worked mostly from behind the scenes through their disciples in all fields of human endeavor. However, they are expected to emerge soon onto the physical plane with Lord Maitreya. Although the teachings refer to these perfected ones as the Masters of Wisdom, they have also been referred in other writings as the Great White Brotherhood, the Illumined Minds, and the Great Saints.

A modern perspective on Lord Maitreya comes from a British esotericist Benjamin Creme. Mr. Creme's viewpoint is derived from the esoteric teachings of Blavatsky and Bailey. Both women claimed to receive their information telepathically from one or more of the Masters of Wisdom. Mr. Creme also claims such telepathic contact with a master. Creme maintains that not only is Lord Maitreya's emergence a certainty, but that he is already among us in the world. For over 20 years, Mr. Creme has been traveling the globe, telling people the second coming of the Christ will not be a celestial spectacle in the distant future, but instead a real event already unfolding. According to Creme, Lord Maitreya emerged in 1977 from his center in the Himalayas, and has since been living in London awaiting humanity's call to enter openly into the world. Creme is confident that we will see Lord Maitreya in the period immediately before us.

Lord Maitreya is expected to usher in this new age and many deem the time is ripe for his coming. In June, 1945 Maitreya announced his intention to return to the world at the earliest possible moment. He would come when a measure of the following three conditions was met:

1. Peace has been restored to the World. Politically there have been great changes since World War II. We have witnessed the fall of the Berlin wall. The Cold War is over, and the great Soviet Empire no longer exists. Apartheid has ended. We now have the United Nations which is expected to become a stronger governing power. On the whole, despite the current world unrest, it appears we have made some positive strides towards peace.
2. The principle of goodwill is in the process of leading to right human relations. 2,000 years ago the Christ offered the idea of service to mankind. Back then, we were too self-centered to really understand or even implement such a spiritual idea. Yet today, due to further growth, we can see large groups of people very willing to serve others in need. Throughout the planet there has been an increase in the Goodwill Movement. Countless religious, philosophical and humanitarian groups are working together to aid the life of humanity.
3. The churches must clean up their act. We still find resistance towards diversity by the fundamental aspects of world religions. However, it would appear people are responding to the new Aquarian energies. The shackles of fanaticism are beginning to diminish and, hence, we can sense a new freedom from the intolerance of dogma. Arms are being extended across the world. There is a rise in the Ecumenical Movement, indicating the realization that each person must find and worship God in his/her own way. Many are gradually accepting that we are, in truth, one humanity under one God.

These positive changes suggest the Christ is nearing. They indicate we are approaching unity in the belief of correct relationships between people, government, society, and the individual. The teachings state Lord Maitreya would come when a measure of these three conditions were met or at least in a process of controlling. This does not mean they need to be completely implemented; otherwise Lord Maitreya's presence would not be necessary. It indicates, rather, we should take the first steps. It would appear humanity is moving in the right direction.

So, if the time is ripe and Lord Maitreya does come forward in the very near future, how might we recognize him? The teachings reveal Lord Maitreya is so advanced it is impossible for us to even imagine his great value to the world, let alone his exalted state of being. Lord Maitreya has both planetary and cosmic consciousness. Hence, his viewpoint on world affairs will be universal. Also, his presence is one of extraordinary purity and sanctity. The quality surrounding Lord Maitreya is holiness, pure love and wisdom. His love for us will be obvious, and he will demonstrate a tremendous willingness and capacity to serve mankind. From very high etheric levels, planes on which the average man is not consciously aware, Lord Maitreya looks out into the world of 6.5 billion people. He sees the suffering, the starving, and the competition. He sees also the good. He sees everything and his deepest desire is to guide the planet towards harmony. His main objective will be to establish his nature into the world, which is divine love.

The recognition of the Christ is up to each of us, individually. We could say that to the degree that God's love is already manifested in us is the degree to which we will recognize him.

Most likely fundamental aspects of world religions will be the last to recognize or accept Lord Maitreya, due to their rigid view of what the Awaited One should look like or how he will announce himself. He will not come as a Buddhist or a Muslim. He is not likely to say he is the Christ, nor the Messiah. What is in a name? He will not come as a religious leader, but as a teacher in the broadest sense with modern solutions to ancient problems. Most importantly he will come for the whole of humanity. Certainly there will be many who will follow Lord Maitreya without even knowing his identity, simply because they believe in what he says and what he stands for.

The basic kernel of Maitreya's teaching for the Aquarian age will be the principle of sharing. Currently thousands of people die daily of starvation in a world of plenty. As atrocious an attack as 9/11 was on our country and the deaths which resulted, that very same day 25,000 people died on this planet due to hunger. Even if one child dies of starvation, we have not yet fully accepted the principle of sharing. Ben Creme says that without sharing there will never be justice in the world; if there is no justice there will never be peace. And if there is no peace, there will be no world. We have no alternative but to accept the principle of sharing. It may well be that we need a teacher of such magnitude as Lord Maitreya to help us realize that sharing is our only alternative.

Another teaching Lord Maitreya will bring is the art of self-realization. While some religions today preach God is up in heaven separate from us, Lord Maitreya will teach that God is within. He will help us realize that we are interconnected as divine sparks of the One, and that all our pain and suffering results from the false idea that we are separate. Aligning ourselves with the soul brings the recognition that we are all brothers and sisters in the truest sense. Eventually, we will begin to manifest this truth, not only in our religious systems, but also in our political, economic, and social structures as well. The art of Self-realization is not a religion, nor an ideology, but rather a goal for humanity. It will become the very nature of our life in the coming age, not as a belief but rather as an experience. This broader vision will prevail, leading us to right human relations and the natural acceptance of the principle of sharing.

Today we face a tremendous task. World problems confronting us such as pollution, world hunger, and violence appear almost insolvable. For centuries we have strived for peace on Earth, brotherhood and sharing, but regrettably we continue to fall short of those goals. Sadly, there are even some who have given up hope for our planet's future existence. We cannot simply crawl into the new age with the old ideals of greed and wrong relationships and expect further growth.

Humanity today is standing at an extraordinary time in history. We have a unique opportunity to create a new civilization worthy of the divine potential which is center to all our lives. Could Guatama Buddha's prophesy of so long ago be correct? Will this new age with its inherent energies of fusion be our opportunity to create a brilliant golden civilization based on brotherhood, unity and sharing? Time will only tell. Fortunately for us, we are not alone as we move into this new age. There is a group of highly evolved spiritual beings who are soon to make their Presence known worldwide. The Masters of Wisdom, led by Lord Maitreya, will come proposing fresh spiritual insights to lead us out of our peril and bring a renewed hope for the future. His coming may be the greatest event of the next 2,000 years.

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