2000-1-26 10:24:00
The emotionally based individual has to be particularly aware or he will be taken in by numerous groups, individuals, and cults who claim to have revelation and contact with a Master, or Masters. Many of these teachers are, in reality, merely students of the Ancient Wisdom who have put their own sales package together garnered from various true revelations and present them as their own original material. There would be no harm in this if there was no deceit, but the seeds of deceit breed deceit including self-deception in the hearts of the students. If some groups were to be believed, you would think that all the Masters in the Universe were competing for the attention of a "chosen" few. The Masters do not sit around anxiously waiting to contact disciples, but are so busy themselves with their own work that most advanced disciples are left to their own intuition as much as possible.
In reality, a deceitful esoteric group does not lead an aspirant much farther along the Path than does a good "born again" Christian group. I call many of these the "born again esoterists", for many of them are merely born againers in a fancy environment using complex words. One may recognize these astral based groups where the following situations often occur.
(1) A strong central leader who is endlessly extolled by the followers. The followers mention the name of their leader more than they refer to concepts. The teacher is more important to them than the teaching.
(2) This leader will either overtly or subtly present the idea that he is in constant communication with God or the Masters in a way that is beyond the reach of the students.
(3) This leader is the only source of new revelations for the group.
(4) Although they teach openness, freedom, and individuality, if they are exercised outside the guidelines of the leader they are frowned upon by their peers. There is a very uncomfortable feeling in the group if anyone disagrees with the leader, and the person is usually thrown out of the organization.
(5) The group may recognize past revelations as being true, but often discourages their members from studying the more recent ones such as those of Alice A. Bailey. These masterful doctrines would expose the insignificance of their leader. Therefore, they are strongly criticized as being full of mistakes and the followers are told that they are much better off to study the pure revelations through their leader.
(6) The leader is sometimes extolled as a "Master" or God incarnate. A true teacher does not feel the need to proclaim himself as such, nor would his followers be encouraged to extol his or her virtues.
(7) The leader lives in wealth and plenty while the followers often are barely eking out a living and are making the real sacrifices..
(8) "By their fruits ye shall know them." Even though the followers may have learned a fancy vocabulary they seem to have no more common sense or reasoning powers than the typical religionists.
(9) The followers automatically disagree with you, not because they are thinking for themselves, but because of what they are spoon-fed from the group
(10) The group is more concerned with getting you to believe than it is in doing good works that produce actual visible results.
(12) The followers feel very inferior to their leader, usually because he is some special being.
(13) They are separative and do not work with or cooperate with other groups, but only want others to cooperate with them.
(14) Others have to agree with them 100% or they are seen as agents of darkness.
(15) The followers automatically believe everything they are taught without passing it through a rational thought process.
On the other hand, the true workers in the light at present often belong to no organized group, for the "woman" is still in the wilderness. Even though there have been many and great revelations since the early Mormon days none of them have had as its purpose the establishment of the kingdom of God, or the return of Excalibur, symbolically. This must accompany the literal gathering of Lights for the purpose of establishing the physical externalization of the inward kingdom, which is already here.
Any group that does work in the light will be known by some of the following characteristics:
(1) While there may be strong and able leaders they will be seeking to serve and not to be served. Anyone in the group may disagree with them without being ostracized. Of course, hysterical attacks are appreciated by no one, but intelligent remarks, even through they disagree, are not to be discouraged.
(2) The leader will not live in great material splendor, but about like the average group member unless some security measures are necessary.
(3) The leader recognizes and acknowledges that there are other living people outside of his group that are motivated and working in harmony with the Christ and His Masters of Wisdom.
(4) The leader himself is obviously not perfect but a reasonable example of a disciple and is striving to learn more.
(5) The group member will be very individualistic and will often adhere to various concepts and philosophies that are not taught in the group, yet they dedicate themselves to group purpose.
(6) The group members are not devotional to their leader and often feel themselves equal to him in many ways and they will talk more of the teachings than of the group or the leader. They will often be involved in a long discussion on doctrine and never mention a leader, for the greatest inspiration is the God within, not a god without.
(7) The group will be non-authoritarian and will allow the members the greatest possible freedom of movement and yet remain intact.
(8) Numerous members of the group will stand out as intelligent teachers and participants, causing the glory of progress to be spread over the group rather than one infallible individual.
(9) The group will seek to cooperate and work with other groups on areas of agreement and will have a world consciousness.
There are currently many Israelites in the wilderness that belong to no group, but are aware of them. These fit the description of the Stage 3's and Stage 4's mentioned earlier and these people become almost nauseated with a highly authoritarian group. However, they often feel a sense of yearning for others of their kind to associate with and interrelate, and would relish the opportunity to mingle with truly great souls. The literal gathering of Israel will give them just that opportunity.
Copyright 2000 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved