AAB Revisited

2006-12-19 04:58:00

Larry writes:

"Except that DK was a mental creation of AAB. As far as I am concerned the existence of this hierarchy in Tibet is about as likely as the Abominable Snowman. That there is a hierarchy seems likely. I doubt that anyone knows where it is though (or if it even exists in the physical world as we know it)."

JJ:

You're not being logical here. How could a person make a mental creation about 100 times the level of their normal intelligence and knowledge?

This statement makes me wonder if you have even read enough of DK's [Djwahl Khul] words to make a fair assessment. If you read 100 pages of Alice A. Bailey's [AAB] writings and then read 100 pages attributed to DK you will see a difference in intelligence that I would consider impossible for any one person to fabricate.

AAB's situation is much different than Helen Shuchman. Even though "A Course in Miracles" is quite profound and provocative it is still possible it could have been written by an intelligent educated woman such as Mrs. Shuchman. In addition her book only elaborates on one principle whereas DK's writings deal with many principles -- a true indication of an inspired work.

And why would you assume that no one would know the whereabouts of Christ and his Hierarchy? It is only logical that select disciples would know some details.

Larry:

"Again, I suspect that are a lot of parallels here between the process that create ACIM and the AAB/DK writings. Perhaps maybe a higher life form focused thought and energy towards both, but the end result was filtered through their consciousnesses."

JJ:

Here it sounds like we are in agreement. The higher life for Alice A. Bailey was stated to be DK. I'm sure there is always some filtering but Alice A. Bailey said that DK was often very specific in his wording. She did say they sometimes argued some back and forth as to the best way to word an idea and DK sometimes complained that Alice's mental ability and knowledge was not sufficient for him to express himself as he wanted.

Larry:

"As far as I can tell so far when JJ teaches something from AAB he pretty much teaches it verbatim as received from AAB. In cases in the past where I have pointed out issues or problems he has pretty much shrugged it off and tried to find some explanation that would allow these teachings to be true."

JJ:

This is a refreshing twist as many times I have been accused of plagiarizing most of my material from the Bailey writings. This, as you know, is not true. When I borrow anything directly from anyone I attempt to give credit where credit is due. There are many of my teachings which are elaborations of his writings or just happen to run in harmony with them. Sometimes I will receive something that I think has never been put in print and then later I will find a hint or reference to it in DK's writings.

In fact the phrase "soul contact" was originated and taught by him. I have added quite a few ideas to the concept that he did not say, but what he did write on it was very illuminating.

One problem seekers have with teachers and inspired works is that sooner or later they will find one or two items they are sure are not correct. This will cause some to reject the whole work. Even if the teacher is wrong in an area or two this does not mean his whole work should be rejected.

Larry:

"He claims to be critical of what he accepts, but in the case of AAB I don't see evidence that substantiates that."

JJ:

And I don't see any evidence that you are critical of Jesus. Why? You give his words the benefit of the doubt because he is an earned authority. DK is an earned authority with me but I still critically analyze his words and have found several things I do not accept. That does not negate the hundreds of inspiring things I have found.

Below are some previous comments I have made on the Bailey material.

There are a number of reasons he is an earned authority with me. The main one being that he touches on a principle that touches my soul in almost every paragraph he writes. No other writer does this for me.

Another reason is that often when I have had things revealed to me through the Oneness Principle I later will be reading DK and discover that he had written about it either directly or indirectly through hints.

I find it interesting that the writings that Alice A. Bailey did by herself rarely say anything that I consider profound, that overall a page of DK's writings equals the light in one of her books -- and her books are pretty good from a standard point of view. The difference testifies that Alice A. Bailey did not write the books attributed to DK.

Now one can say that some tricky evil spirit dictated the DK books, but they definitely did not come from Mrs. Bailey.

I believe the writings come from a true Master of Wisdom and thus when his writings take me into unknown territory I give then strong credibility.

Does this mean I automatically accept all he writes? No, but it does mean I give weight to all he writes. I personally find it amazing as to how much I automatically agree with because of soul confirmation as I read. After 35 years of study there are only two or three things I have on the shelf -- on which I have not received soul confirmation and which I may disagree.

What are the possible origins of the DK material? Here are the possibilities:

Alice A. Bailey was a clever ambitious girl and made them all up.
She received the writings of a Master as represented.
She received the writings from a dark brother disguising himself as a brother of light.
She received the writings from a higher intelligence that is neither dark nor light, but just screwing with us.
She received the writings from her subconscious mind.
She received them from her Solar Angel.

Interestingly, in relation to this question, I found a helpful piece of information today -- a sample of Alice A. Bailey's handwriting. This gives us powerful evidence in answering the first possibility.

Here are a couple things it reveals.

The thing that stands out first is she saw herself as a strong personality, capable of influencing others and dominating a situation.

She was very passionate, but with emotions under control. She also had some suppression which probably contributed to her health problems later in life.

She was very determined and decisive, loved to work with people. She had a good imagination with her mind exploring the abstract as well as right human relations. Her weakness was the physical side of life, sometimes not following through to insure the financial means she needed.

She liked responsibility and liked to lead. She was fairly honest and straightforward. She had some childlike qualities and faith.

The big question is this: Was she intelligent enough to have fabricated the writings of DK?

The answer is a definite "no" according to her handwriting. She was a little above average in intelligence, but her native intelligence was far from the quality needed to write something like "Treatise on Cosmic Fire," or even the fourteen rules of White Magic.

She was methodical, a good student, but did not have a penetrating mind, was not particularly perceptive or innovative. She was a team player. She was not the deep thinker compared to the author of the writings of DK.

What intelligence was she capable of displaying? Fortunately, we have the answer for she wrote several books without DK's help.

In fact, the comparing of her writings to that of DK is the most astounding proof that she did indeed receive the writings of DK from somewhere higher than her personality self.

If you read some of her own words such as "Consciousness of the Atom" and compare them to "White Magic" you will see the difference between night and day.

Her own writings reveal the intelligence and personality as revealed in her handwriting. In fact, when I finally found her handwriting I saw nothing to surprise me. It was about what I had expected, based on my knowledge of her own writings.

On the other hand, if she had indeed fabricated the DK writings, I would have expected something entirely different. There would have been evidence of super intelligence as well as deceit.

To create two styles of writings are difficult enough, but to create two levels of intelligence consistent throughout the two sets of writings is close to impossible.

The most difficult thing I have ever written was the dialog for Philo. It was very difficult indeed to put myself in his mindset and write with his intelligence.

In my mind then, there is no doubt that Alice A. Bailey did not fabricate the higher writings of DK. She did receive them from somewhere above the personality level.

"Having achieved one pinnacle of spiritual success, another can be glimpsed, and between the two pinnacles, lies a field of service, a sphere of danger, a land of glamour and deep morasses through which you must struggle, until the point of attainment planned by your soul for this life is yours."
-- Djwhal Khul

(From A. A. Bailey's, "Discipleship in the New Age," Vol 2, pg 470)