Lessons of Unity and Christ Consciousness
The single most influential book(s) I have read on spirit, spiritualism and personal development is Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East by Baird T Spalding. This little known set of six volumes is very accessible, easily readable and full of surprising concepts for the uninitiated, yet cryptically captivating for those familiar with the fact there are no dead, we all are one and the pinnacle of existence is Unity with the Godhead.
Baird T Spalding was exploring India and surrounding terrain with a large group of archeologists and scholars in 1894. Spalding calls the group researchers and throughout the complete set reference is made to their desire to find ancient cities, temples and study the associated civilizations and cultures.
The forward to the first volume explains that all that transpired in the three-year expedition was carefully and ‘stenographically’ recorded. Spalding also points out that the (unplanned) events that took place were so remarkable that the story was not recounted in print for many years – until he thought the world was ready to hear such surprising events and concepts.
The volumes have increased in popularity in fits and starts since their publication in 1924, 1937 and again in 1964. Baird T Spalding died in the 1950’s. I assume that the family took up the continuation of printing these vastly important volumes.
That said, it is interesting to note that the Theosophical Society was created in 1875, after the founder, the venerable Madame Blavatsky returned from her teachings with her Adept Teachers in India in 1871. The Adept Masters were not only in the physical and out (so to speak) in the world they were orchestrating meeting and guiding different people of the West.
Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the exceedingly popular Autobiography of a Yogi and founder of the Self Realization Fellowship in California, brought Eastern thought to the West in the 1920’s and lived in America until his death in 1952. While Yoganada was a Hindu he deftly conjoined the teachings of Jesus into his fellowship.
What is fascinating to me is how in the early 20th century all these human teachers were bringing the ideas and concepts to the West and melding all the teachings from Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity and this little set of volumes remained somewhat obscure. And yet they are so readable, so accessible.
Jesus
It is evident that what is learned during the expedition follows what Blavatsky and Yogananda were teaching, albeit in different platforms. Spalding states that the Masters or Elder Brothers:
“accept that Buddha represents the Way to Enlightenment, but they clearly set forth that Christ IS Enlightenment, or a state of consciousness for which we are all seeking – the Christ light of every individual; therefore, the light of every child that is born into the world.”
I will note here that there are two things that are repeated frequently that took some reflection to reconcile. I have come to the conclusion that in part it is a use of language that is based on the times and mores of the culture of the 19th and even the 20th centuries. It must be taken only as an antiquated form of address to use the words Brothers or Brotherhood exclusively rather than inclusive terms.
There are in fact events and circumstances in the Spalding expedition that include many women who are Adept Masters. One of great esteem makes several appearances. Today these Adepts are referred to as Lady Masters, which to my estimation also is a use of language of our times and mores.
If Light bodies take androgynous form why would there need to be a distinction of male and female? Aren’t they all Adept Masters? But I digress.
The second term is in fact doomed to be misunderstood without serious reconciliation and that is the use of White Brotherhood. I bring this up so that when you choose to read these books you know what is meant here is in fact Brotherhood of Light, which is also a term used, but only a few times; too few times in my opinion.
There is no intention to describe race here. I have concluded that it is a failing of our own times and use of language which is so inconveniently plastic in this case.
The astounding thing about these volumes is their simplicity. The first three volumes focus on the expedition itself. The last three volumes are compilations of Spalding’s lectures post-expedition, articles and transcripts of question and answer sessions organized by theme.
I have read volume one countless times, volumes two and three a few times each and the rest I have mostly flipped through; dipping in and out at whim. I know people who keep this set by their bedside and read bits from it each night.
Buddha
While there are many wonderful discoveries to be made in the volumes, the single most astounding revelation to me after my first read was the fact that there are many Adepts living in our three dimensional world. They are not only helping humans learn of the possibilities of becoming Christed-beings but they are also willing exposing themselves to the scrutiny of humanity.
There are so many concepts that are covered in the volumes including reincarnation, Universal supply, perfected being, raising one’s consciousness to the One while in the physical, new perspective on Christ and becoming a Christ-Buddha consciousness and so much more.
This is all relevant today. Every single event and circumstance is relevant to our lives in the 21st century. These volumes are not to be approached as a Bible but they do provide lessons for perspectives that the Adepts are still trying to teach to humanity through direct contact with humans.
The Adept Masters are coming back into the world today. In fact they never left. They have been everywhere, throughout history in various aspects and incarnations by choice. Because of the modern human propensity to take things out of proportion due to clinging to the past and the stories we make up about ourselves and our history, it is very difficult to be enlightened in this world.
Most of us can accept that in India, for instance, many ascetics may be ascended but they do not ‘live’ in the modern world. They seem to be separated from society in general. That is the challenge – for all of us.
We must find a way to be in the world but not of it. To be the working man or soccer mom and KNOW that we are not in the Universe, the Universe is in us.
Spalding was apparently not too successful in bringing those lessons he experienced on the expedition into the modern world. He was lecturing and writing to small audiences in the forties and fifties and then died in a motel in Arizona before the revelations of the expedition could be a worldwide phenomenon.
Can you imagine if Spalding, Yogananda and Blavatsky’s paths had crossed? Now there is an elevator moment!
Today many spiritual teachers are aware of the Spalding books. Wayne Dyer recently started mentioning the books in his lectures and workshops before his untimely death. In fact I believe had he lived longer that Dyer would have begun to teach from these books.
The Adepts are coming out into the world again. They have not brought themselves ‘publicly’ into the world since the 1880’s. But now they are arriving into the 3rd dimension as embodied or incarnated beings ready to bring the Light and teach humanity how to become the Christed-Self that resides within each one of us.
Life and Teachings gives proof and evidence that it can be done. Understand what is being presented is possible for you, in your life. How would you interpret all those possibilities into your life?
If you have read one or more of these volumes please let me know your thoughts. Embrace the Mystery.
