from Wikipedia Website
The Great White Brotherhood, in some
Theosophical and New Age belief systems, is a group of
supernatural beings of great power who spread the true religious teachings
through selected humans.[1]
The members of the Brotherhood are sometimes
called the Ascended Masters.[1]
Various religious leaders have said they have
received messages from these beings, including Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
(Theosophy), Guy Ballard ("I AM" Activity ), and
Benjamin Creme (Share International).[1]
History
The idea of a secret organization of enlightened mystics, guiding the spiritual development of the human race, was pioneered in the late eighteenth century by Karl von Eckartshausen in his book The Cloud upon the Sanctuary; Eckartshausen called this body of mystics, who remained active after their physical deaths on earth, the "council of light".[2][3]
Eckartshausen's proposed communion of living and
dead mystics, in turn, drew partially on Christian ideas such as the
Communion of the Saints, and partially on previously circulating
European ideas about secret societies of enlightened, mystical, or magic
adepts typified by the Rosicrucians and the Illuminati.[4]
The Mahatma Letters began publication in 1881 with information supposedly revealed by "Koot Hoomi" to Alfred Percy Sinnett, and were also influential on the early development of the tradition. Koot Hoomi, through Sinnett, revealed that high ranking members of mystic organizations in India and Tibet were able to maintain regular telepathic contact with one another, and thus were able to communicate to each other, and also to Sinnett, without the need for either written or oral communications, and in a manner similar to the way that spirit mediums claimed to communicate with the dead. The letters published by Sinnett, which proposed the controversial doctrine of reincarnation, were said to have been revealed through this means.[5]
Eckartshausen's idea was expanded in the teachings of H. P. Blavatsky as developed by C. W. Leadbeater, Alice Bailey and Helena Roerich.
The Mahatma Letters began publication in 1881 with information supposedly revealed by "Koot Hoomi" to Alfred Percy Sinnett, and were also influential on the early development of the tradition. Koot Hoomi, through Sinnett, revealed that high ranking members of mystic organizations in India and Tibet were able to maintain regular telepathic contact with one another, and thus were able to communicate to each other, and also to Sinnett, without the need for either written or oral communications, and in a manner similar to the way that spirit mediums claimed to communicate with the dead. The letters published by Sinnett, which proposed the controversial doctrine of reincarnation, were said to have been revealed through this means.[5]
Eckartshausen's idea was expanded in the teachings of H. P. Blavatsky as developed by C. W. Leadbeater, Alice Bailey and Helena Roerich.
Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society,
attributed her teachings to just such a body of adepts; in Isis Unveiled,
she called the revealers of her teachings the "Masters of the Hidden
Brotherhood" or the "Mahatmas". Blavatsky claimed that she had made physical
contact with these adepts' earthly representatives in Tibet; but also, that
she continued to receive teachings from them through psychic channels,
through her abilities of spirit mediumship.[6]
Ideas about this secret council of sages, under several names, were a widely shared feature of late nineteenth century and early twentieth century esotericism. Arthur Edward Waite, in his Book of Black Magic and of Pacts, hinted at the existence of a secret group of initiates who dispense truth and wisdom to the worthy.[7]
Ideas about this secret council of sages, under several names, were a widely shared feature of late nineteenth century and early twentieth century esotericism. Arthur Edward Waite, in his Book of Black Magic and of Pacts, hinted at the existence of a secret group of initiates who dispense truth and wisdom to the worthy.[7]
A young
Aleister
Crowley, reading this, wrote Waite and was directed to read
von Eckartshausen's book. Crowley's search for this secret wisdom eventually
led him to become a neophyte in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn,
which represented itself to be the visible and earthly outer order of the
Great White Brotherhood.[8]
Within the Golden Dawn itself, its
teachings claimed to be derived from a similar body of initiates which in
that tradition were called the Secret Chiefs.[9]
The actual phrase "Great White Brotherhood" appears to have been popularized in Leadbeater's 1925 book The Masters and the Path.[10] Since the introduction of the phrase, the term "Great White Brotherhood" is in some circles used generically to refer to any concept of an enlightened community of adepts, on earth or in the hereafter, with benevolent aims towards the spiritual development of the human race, and without strict regard to the names used within the tradition.[11]
The actual phrase "Great White Brotherhood" appears to have been popularized in Leadbeater's 1925 book The Masters and the Path.[10] Since the introduction of the phrase, the term "Great White Brotherhood" is in some circles used generically to refer to any concept of an enlightened community of adepts, on earth or in the hereafter, with benevolent aims towards the spiritual development of the human race, and without strict regard to the names used within the tradition.[11]
Dion Fortune adopts the name to refer to
the community of living and dead adepts.[12]
The ritual magicians of the Western mystery tradition sometimes refer to the Great White Brotherhood as the "Great White Lodge", a name that appears to indicate that they imagine it constitutes an initiatory hierarchy similar to Freemasonry. Gareth Knight describes its members as the "Masters" or "Inner Plane Adepti", who have,
The ritual magicians of the Western mystery tradition sometimes refer to the Great White Brotherhood as the "Great White Lodge", a name that appears to indicate that they imagine it constitutes an initiatory hierarchy similar to Freemasonry. Gareth Knight describes its members as the "Masters" or "Inner Plane Adepti", who have,
"gained all the experience, and all the wisdom resulting from experience, necessary for their spiritual evolution in the worlds of form."
While some go on to "higher evolution in other
spheres", others become teaching Masters who stay behind to help
younger initiates in their "cyclic evolution on this planet". Only a few of
this community are known to the human race; these initiates are the
"teaching Masters."[13]
The AMORC Rosicrucian order maintains a
difference between the "Great White Brotherhood" and the "Great White
Lodge", saying that the Great White Brotherhood is the "school or
fraternity" of the Great White Lodge, and that "every true student on
the Path" aspires to membership in this Brotherhood.[14]
Some of Aleister Crowley's remarks appear to
indicate that Crowley identified the Great White Brotherhood with
the A∴A∴, his magical secret society.[15]
The term Great White Brotherhood was further developed and popularized in 1934 with the publication of "Unveiled Mysteries" [16] by Guy Ballard's "I Am" Activity.[17]
The term Great White Brotherhood was further developed and popularized in 1934 with the publication of "Unveiled Mysteries" [16] by Guy Ballard's "I Am" Activity.[17]
This Brotherhood of "Immortal Saints and Sages"
[18] who have gone through
the Initiations of the Transfiguration, Resurrection, and the Ascension
[19]] was further popularized by Ascended Master
Teachings developed by The Bridge to Freedom, The Summit Lighthouse, and
The Temple of The Presence. [20]
Other esoteric traditions, however, dismiss or deny the existence of a Great White Brotherhood. Neo-Pagan author Isaac Bonewits has been sharply critical of the concept; in his 1971 book Real Magic, Bonewits dismisses the "Great White Brotherhood" as part of his rejection of what he sees as the Manichean dualism of the implied opposition of whiteness and darkness, white magic versus black magic.
Other esoteric traditions, however, dismiss or deny the existence of a Great White Brotherhood. Neo-Pagan author Isaac Bonewits has been sharply critical of the concept; in his 1971 book Real Magic, Bonewits dismisses the "Great White Brotherhood" as part of his rejection of what he sees as the Manichean dualism of the implied opposition of whiteness and darkness, white magic versus black magic.
Bonewits mentions the Brotherhood as an
example of his larger thesis, that,
"(t)he whole idea of White as Good and Black as Evil is purely the result of cultural bigotries."[21]
Great Brotherhood of Light
The Great White Brotherhood, also know as Great Brotherhood of Light, is perceived as a spiritual organization composed of those Ascended Masters who have risen from the Earth into immortality, but still maintain an active watch over the world. [22] [23]
The Great White Brotherhood also includes
members of the Heavenly Host (the Spiritual Hierarchy directly
concerned with the evolution of our world), Beneficent Members from other
planets that are interested in our welfare, as well as certain unascended
chelas. [24]
The Ascended Masters are believed to be joined together in service to the Earth under the name of the Great White Brotherhood. The use of the term "white" is supposed to refer to their advanced spirituality (i.e., that they have a white colored aura) and has nothing to do with race.
The Ascended Masters are believed to be joined together in service to the Earth under the name of the Great White Brotherhood. The use of the term "white" is supposed to refer to their advanced spirituality (i.e., that they have a white colored aura) and has nothing to do with race.
The later versions of Blavatsky described the
masters as [25] ethnically
Tibetan or Indian (Hindu), not European. Recent research indicates, however,
that this description was used by Blavatsky to hide the real identity of her
teachers, some of whom were well known Indian rulers of her time.
[26]
Belief in the Brotherhood and the Masters is an essential part of the syncretistic teachings of various organizations that have continued and expanded the Theosophical philosophical concepts. [27] [28] [29] [30] [31]
Belief in the Brotherhood and the Masters is an essential part of the syncretistic teachings of various organizations that have continued and expanded the Theosophical philosophical concepts. [27] [28] [29] [30] [31]
Information given by the Summit Lighthouse
and the I AM movement is suspect, since none of the writers of these
groups are Masters of any Brotherhood. Examples of those believed to be
Ascended Masters are Jesus, Confucius, Gautama Buddha, Mary the
Mother of Jesus, Pope John Paul II
[32], Kwan Yin, Saint Germain and Kuthumi.
It is believed that all of these put aside any
differences they might have had in their Earthly careers, and unite instead
to advance the spiritual well-being of humanity.
[33]
Founding of the Great White
Brotherhood
In 1952, Geraldine Innocente, Messenger for The Bridge to Freedom, delivered this Address purported to be from Sanat Kumara describing the founding of the "Great White Brotherhood":
" . . . I had nothing to work with but Light and Love, and many centuries passed before even two lifestreams applied for membership - One, later became Buddha (now, Lord of the World, the Planetary Logos Gautama Buddha) and the Other, became the Cosmic Christ (Lord Maitreya, now the Planetary Buddha). The Brotherhood has grown through these ages and centuries until almost all the offices are held now by those belonging to the evolution of Earth and those who have volunteered to remain among her evolution. . .. " [34]
On July 4, 1954 it is believed that Sanat
Kumara stated through Geraldine Innocente:
" . . . Thus We took Our abode upon the sweet Earth. Through the same power of centripetal and centrifugal force of which I spoke (cohesion and expansion of the magnetic power of Divine Love), We then began to magnetize the Flame in the hearts of some of the Guardian Spirits who were not sleeping so soundly and who were not too enthusiastically engaged in using primal life for the satisfaction of the personal self.
"In this way, the Great White Brotherhood began. The Three-fold Flame within the heart of Shamballa, within the Hearts of the Kumaras and Myself, formed the magnetic Heart of the Great White Brotherhood by Whom you have all been blessed and of which Brotherhood you all aspire to become conscious members. . . . " [35]
Esotericism and Theosophy
The Great White Brotherhood is the name given in some metaphysical/occult circles to adepts of wisdom in or out of earthly incarnation who have assumed responsibility for the cosmic destiny of the human race, both individually and collectively. Nicholas Roerich and his wife, Helena Roerich, inspired by the Theosophical writings of H.P. Blavatsky, published the "Agni Yoga" series of books.
Their contents, claimed to be inspired by the
Master Morya, described the work of the Brotherhood and the Spiritual
Hierarchy. Most occult groups assign a high level of importance to the
Brotherhood, but some make interaction with the Ascended Masters of the
Brotherhood a major focus of their existence.
Of these several, the most prominent are the
"I Am" Activity - the original Ascended Master organization founded in
the 1930s, The Bridge to Freedom, the Church Universal and
Triumphant, and The Temple of The Presence.
[36]
Notes
No comments:
Post a Comment