A
New Historical Perspective
From
very ancient times a body of spiritual teaching known as the Ageless
Wisdom, or esoteric philosophy, has been passed from generation
to generation, usually by word of mouth, from teacher to pupil.
It has been the wellspring for the arts and sciences of countless
civilizations, as well as the common foundation of all the world's
religions.
According
to the Ageless Wisdom teachings, humanity has advanced primarily
through the influence of a succession of enlightened teachers
who inspire us at the beginning of every new cosmic cycle or age.
The wisdom and spiritual power of these teachers have been so
far above the norm that followers have built religions around
them to spread their teachings. We know some of these teachers
as Krishna, Confucius, Zoroaster, the Buddha, the Christ, and
Mohammed.
The
scriptures of every major religion promise further revelations
with the return of a great spiritual teacher. Today, while Christians
hope for the return of Christ, Jews await the Messiah, Muslims
look for the Imam Mahdi or Messiah, Hindus expect Krishna, and
Buddhists anticipate the Fifth (Maitreya) Buddha.
Students
of the Ageless Wisdom teachings know all these as different names
for the same individual - the World Teacher - Maitreya.
Today,
at the dawn of the Aquarian age, Maitreya has come to inspire
humanity to create a civilization characterized by brotherhood,
justice, and right relationship - based upon a more equitable
sharing of the world's resources.
Maitreya's
Emergence: A Chronology 1875:
The
Ageless Wisdom teachings were first made available to the general
public by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, who received her information
directly from the Masters of Wisdom - perfected, omniscient men
who have attained their high spiritual status after lifetimes
of human experience.
In
her seminal works on the Ageless Wisdom, The Secret Doctrine and
Isis Unveiled, Blavatsky revealed that the Masters, together forming
the Spiritual Hierarchy of our planet, have guided humanity from
behind the scenes of everyday life for countless millennia. Periodically,
at times of great human crisis, they send one of their own into
the world to show humanity the way forward. Blavatsky established
the Theosophical Society to introduce this new perspective on
history and human evolution.
Between
1919 and 1949, Alice A. Bailey wrote a series of books
dictated telepathically to her by a Master known as 'the Tibetan'.
Within the vast body of information given about the world and
its future, the Tibetan revealed that the inevitability of the
World Teacher's return had been established, and that he would
come at the middle or the close of this [the 20th] century.
January,
1959:
British
artist Benjamin Creme was first contacted telepathically by one
of the Masters of Wisdom, and three months later by Maitreya himself,
who offered Creme the task of making known publicly his return.
Maitreya
explained: "I myself am coming, sooner than anyone thinks possible.
It will be in about 20 years, and you will have a role to play
in my coming if you accept it." Consenting
to the unknown challenge, Creme began an arduous period of training
designed to prepare him for the work that would ensue.
Since
1974, Creme has been the key individual speaking out
on this subject, through worldwide public lectures and hundreds
of interviews on radio and television, as well as through the
print media. His information has been compiled into eight books
and translated into numerous languages by groups responding to
his message.
In
July, 1977, according to Creme, Maitreya emerged from
his center in the Himalayas, and traveled by plane from Pakistan
to London, his 'point of focus' in the modern world - thus fulfilling
the biblical prophecy that he would "come in the clouds".
Returning to humanity "like a thief in the night", Maitreya established
himself in London's Indian-Pakistani community, where he soon
became a spokesman for the underprivileged, voicing his concern
with modern problems - political, economic, and social.
May,
1982: At an internationally-covered press conference
in Los Angeles, Creme revealed where Maitreya was to be found.
Creme challenged the world's media to mount a symbolic search
for Maitreya in London's Asian community. This search, Creme said,
would demonstrate humanity's willingness to invite Maitreya forward
and so allow him to reveal himself without violating human free
will. The media did not respond to Creme's invitation. One day
after the press conference, the Falkland Islands War broke out,
and no major news bureau followed through on Creme's information.
August,
1987: Creme announced: "In the coming three or four months,
Maitreya will be working intensively to bring about a breakthrough
in international relations in the world." Less than a month later,
political meetings between the Americans and Soviets led to the
armaments agreement no one had thought possible.
April,
1988: An associate of Maitreya began regular communication
with two London-based journalists, relaying Maitreya's forecasts
of world events, which he makes from his knowledge of the Law
of Cause and Effect. Between 1988 and 1993, this information was
distributed to the world's media and published monthly in Share
International magazine. Maitreya predicted dramatic and unexpected
international events weeks, months, or years before they happened.
These events included: the rapprochement between the United States
and Soviet Union; the growing power of 'the people's voice', demonstrating
most dramatically in Eastern Europe; the collapse of communism
in the Soviet Union; the release of Nelson Mandela and the ending
of apartheid in South Africa; the resignation of Margaret Thatcher
(a prediction made at the height of her political popularity);
the defeat of George Bush in the 1992 US presidential election;
the peace initiatives in the Middle East and Northern Ireland;
earthquakes in Armenia in 1988, and in California and China in
1989; the new worldwide focus on the environment. Yet to come
is an international stock market collapse, which will force governments
to re-order their priorities in favor of providing all their citizens
with the basic necessities of life.
June,
1988: Maitreya's associate stated: "The signs of Maitreya's
presence in the world will continue to increase ... he is going
to flood the world with such happenings that the mind can never
comprehend it." Within months, 'crosses of light' were discovered
in the windows of homes near Los Angeles, and later in Canada,
France, England, Japan, New Zealand and the Philippines. This
phenomenon was accompanied by an increase in other inexplicable
events, such as weeping statues of the Virgin Mary, apparitions
of Mary and Jesus, crop circles, 'angelic' encounters, and vanishing
hitchhikers. As the signs continued to manifest worldwide, media
coverage increased.
June
11, 1988: Maitreya suddenly appeared 'out of the blue'
at a Christian prayer meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. Thousands attending
instantly recognized him as the Christ. He spoke to them in their
own language and many reported being cured of major illnesses.
The Kenya Times reported that, afterwards, a man saw Maitreya
take a few steps and then simply disappear. The Times photographed
Maitreya, and the story was picked up and reported by international
news organizations.
1991-present:
As in Kenya in 1988, Maitreya continues to appear miraculously
throughout the world, mainly at meetings of orthodox religious
groups. Prior to his appearance in different locales, he potentizes
water in the area with healing energy. In Mexico, Germany, and
India the healing waters have been discovered, and millions of
people have been drawn to the sites. Many claim they have been
cured of illnesses such as AIDS, cancer, arthritis, and glaucoma
after drinking the water. In August 1993, the American television
program "CBS Up-to-the-Minute" aired a week-long series on the
healing waters in Tlacote, Mexico. The reporter cited laboratory
results which found the water to be "lighter than normal water".
She herself claimed that using the water cured an eye infection
in less than one-third the time her doctor had predicted it would
take. Other inexplicable events continue to make the headlines,
including the 1995 worldwide phenomenon of Hindu religious icons
reported to be 'drinking' milk offered by worshippers and skeptics
alike. Among Muslims, sacred messages formed in perfect Arabic
script have been found in and on garden vegetables both in the
Middle East and the UK.
Day
of Declaration
Maitreya
is expected to make his first major public appearance via an American
television network. This will lead to the 'Day of Declaration',
when he will speak to all of humanity inwardly, in their own language
and, at the same time, hundreds of thousands of healings will
take place. Those who have television will also see his face -
broadcast by an international satellite hook-up set in place by
the world's media. In this way, people everywhere will come to
know the World Teacher is among us.
Priorities
Maitreya's
first priority is to inspire us to feed the 24,000 people per
day - three-quarters of whom are children - who die from hunger
in a world with a 10% per capita surplus. Establishing proper
housing, medical care and education as basic human rights are
next on his list. And, at the same time, his presence will lead
to a new respect for the natural world and a host of creative
solutions to the environmental crisis.
Teachings
Maitreya
has not come to start a new religion. He is a teacher, guide and
counselor for all humanity -- regardless of religious affiliation.
He will show us how to apply the principle of love in all our
relationships -- whether they are in the economic, political,
educational, cultural or social spheres. He will lead us to the
recognition of our true spiritual heritage as 'sparks of God'.
Out of this greater awareness and creative power will come a new
livingness, harmony and joy. We will learn the principle of sharing
and a profound understanding of the oneness of all life.
Reprinted
with the kind permission of Share International Magazine
- April 2000.
