Map of the Course

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Instructions
Psi and Healing			Exercises					Solutions
New Age Movement				Exercises			Solutions
World Religions	Comparison				Exercises				Solutions
Holy Spirit 1		Exercises				Solutions
Holy Spirit 2					Where are you now?
Reincarnation	Earth as a Classroom				Exercises				Solutions

First things first

Prerequisite Course

What did Jesus really teach?

By some estimates, better than 40 out of every 100 people in the world believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior. Yet, even in regard to fundamental issues relating to their faith, each of the believers holds opinions that differ with everyone else’s.

So who is right? How well do you know Jesus, yourself? And how deeply do you understand what he taught? Take the quick test below to find out.

But no cheating now. Just answer truthfully according to how you really feel. First, complete the test before you look up Jesus’ answers at the end. And prepare to be surprised.

Instructions:

On the left-most blank space, type in the letter “A” if you agree with the statement and “D” if you disagree. Then scroll down twice to find the Solutions.

__ 1 We are humans and mere mortals, we cannot be a god.

__ 2 Jesus is the only son of God.

__ 3 Being only human, we cannot be perfect.

__ 4 Only Jesus can ever do the things that he has done.

__ 5 Non-believers won't be allowed to enter heaven. They must convert to Christianity before they can be saved.

__ 6 Our Church elders are the best qualified to interpret the Divine Teachings because they base their conclusions on the revelations given to the Church and their age-old traditions.

__ 7 We should censor and block all offensive programs, films, pictures, thoughts and ideas from being shown or heard so they won't corrupt or harm our young and innocent.

__ 8 Our observance of prescribed rituals and ceremonies, and the offering of acceptable sacrifices to God will guarantee our entry into heaven.

__ 9 Power, fame and fortune are the true measures of success.

__ 10 Ignorance of the law will not save us from the consequences of our bad decisions.

__ 11 First, aspire for the riches of the world. Heaven can wait.

__ 12 God will not forgive you if you do not forgive others.

__ 13 God does not want us to become victims of injustice, or suffer from wars or natural calamities, or become sick or be poor or die.

__ 14 Jesus already paid for our sins. By his stripes, we are healed. We're sure to go to heaven if we will only believe him.

__ 15 Don't get mad. Get even.

__ 16 We should befriend only those wealthy and successful people who can help us and not bother with no good bums and freeloaders or those sick and disabled do-nothings who can't repay or help us, at all.

__ 17 The voice of the people is the voice of God.

__ 18 The great men of the world are regarded as great also in heaven.

__ 19 God only knows. We humans are not allowed to know everything.

__ 20 Many are called, but only a few will respond to his call.




















Solutions

How the New Testament came to be written

Many believe because it is written in the Gospels. However, perhaps we should first better understand how the Gospels came to be written before we decide to place our total trust in them.

Jesus taught the people directly and he did reveal much more but only to his chosen disciples. In the early days, the gospel message could only be passed on to others by word of mouth. But in the retelling from one disciple to the next, understandably, so much was lost and the message splintered into many different versions that became corrupted, garbled and distorted. It was only a hundred years later that everything was put down in writing, not by those who heard it first-hand, but by monks to whom the message was entrusted by others before them. Contrary to popular belief, while Matthew and John were chosen Apostles, they themselves were not the authors of the Gospels written in their names, according to most Bible scholars.

Mark, Luke and Paul were not even included among the 12 Apostles and were not taught by Jesus, directly. Their appreciation of the stories and teachings relied heavily likewise on the testimonies of others. Further, while his true motivation and intent are beyond reproach, Paul's formulation of his own theology were to some extent influenced by his Roman upbringing and the high ideas taught him by his mentor, Gamaliel. These influences resulted in him departing in no small measure from the teachings of Jesus given to the Apostles. In fact, many modern scholars are of the opinion that the Christianity embraced by most people today is more Paul's than Christ's, since it was Paul who preached and spread the faith to the Gentiles.

The formulation of Church teachings

Centuries after, the whole of Christendom found itself in total chaos, confused as to what Jesus really taught. The ruling majority of early Church Fathers decided to hammer out a unified set of beliefs, later known as the Nicene Creed, that spelled out in explicit detail what in their considered opinion the teachings should be based on their chosen Scriptures and age-old traditions. And nearer our time, disagreements among the flock caused dissension in the ranks that resulted in the breaking away of multitudes of factions and minor sects based on their differing interpretations of the teachings. The confusion still persists, today.

But did Jesus really teach what his followers insist he did?

The Teachings of Jesus, in his own words

1 We are humans and mere mortals, we cannot be a god.

D "Isn’t it written in your Scriptures, ‘You are gods.’" (JN 10)

2 Jesus is the only son of God.

D "Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?" Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "Look! Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants him to do is my brother, my sister and my mother." (MT 12)

3 Being only human, we cannot be perfect.

D Jesus said, "But you are to become perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (MT 5)

4 Only Jesus can ever do the things that he has done.

D He also said, "All that I have done, you, too, can do." (JN14)

5 Non-believers won't be allowed to enter heaven. They must convert to Christianity before they can be saved.

D Jesus said, "I have other sheep which are not of this (Judaeo-Christian) fold." (JN 10)

"Don’t stop him, because those who are not against us are working with us." (LK 9)

"Whoever rejects me and does not accept my teachings will, nevertheless, be judged according to the truths I have spoken." (JN12:48)

6 Our Church elders are the best qualified to interpret the Divine Teachings because they base their conclusions on the revelations given to the Church and their age-old traditions.

D "‘These people honor Me with their words, but they really have no love in their hearts for Me. Their worship is a farce because they teach people man-made laws as if they were God’s laws!’ You have set aside God’s commands just so that you may keep your own traditions." (MK 7)

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees are the authorized interpreters of the law, just as Moses was before them. So you should obey and follow everything they tell you to do. It may be best for you to do what they say; only, don’t follow after their examples, because they don’t practice what they preach!" (MT23)

7 We should censor and block all offensive programs, films, pictures, thoughts and ideas from being shown or heard so they won't corrupt or harm our young and innocent.

D Christ also said, "It is not what enters our body (what we see, hear or is done to us) but what comes out of it (the things we do) that defiles us." (MT 15)

8 Our observance of prescribed rituals and ceremonies, and the offering of acceptable sacrifices to God will guarantee our entry into heaven.

D "Man must love God with all his heart, with all his mind and with all his strength; and he must love his neighbor as he loves himself. It is more important to obey these two commandments than to offer altar animals and other sacrifices to God." (MK 12)

"You hypocrites! For you tithe down to the last mint leaf in your garden but ignore the more important things — justice, mercy and faith. Yes, you should tithe, but you shouldn’t leave the more important things undone." (MT 23)

9 Power, fame and fortune are the true measures of success.

D "Don’t waste your time accumulating the fleeting treasures of this earth which can last only for a time and can be stolen, besides. But strive for the true treasures of heaven which cannot be destroyed and which cannot be stolen." (MT 6)

"For what good is it for a man to gain the whole world if, in exchange, he loses his eternal soul?" (MK 8)

"Yes, every man is a fool who is rich in the things of this world, but not in the things of heaven." (LK 12)

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!" (MT 19)

10 Ignorance of the law will not save us from the consequences of our bad decisions.

A "Whoever rejects me and does not accept my teachings will, nevertheless, be judged according to the truths I have spoken." (JN 12)

11 First, aspire for the riches of the world. Heaven can wait.

D "But first, seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be ours, as well." (MT 6)

12 God will not forgive you if you do not forgive others.

A "If your brother commits an offense against you, inform him of his mistake; and if he should be sorry, forgive him. And even if he wrongs you seven times in one day and, each time, comes to you asking your forgiveness, you should forgive him." (LK 17)

"The Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to update the accounts of his servants. In the process, one who owed him ten thousand gold coins was brought in. The servant did not have enough to pay his debt: so the king ordered that he be sold as a slave, together with his wife and children and all that he had in order to pay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before the king, ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will repay the full amount.’ The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.

"Then the same man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few silver coins. He grabbed him and started choking him, demanding that he be paid. His fellow servant fell down before him and begged him, ‘Be patient with me and I will pay you back.’ But he refused; instead, he had him thrown in jail until he should pay the debt.

"When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. So he called the servant and said to him, ‘You evil-hearted wretch! I forgave you the whole amount you owed me just because you asked me to. You should have been merciful to your fellow servant just as I had shown mercy to you.’ The king was very angry and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.

"And Jesus concluded, "So shall my Father in heaven do the same to all those who refuse to forgive their brothers." (MT 18)

13 God does not want us to become victims of injustice, or suffer from wars or natural calamities, or become sick or be poor or die.

D "As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (MT 7)

"Father," he prayed, "my Father! All things are possible to You. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Even so, not what I want but what You want." (MK 14)

"Wars must come. " (MT 24)

"You will always have the poor with you." (JN 12)

14 Jesus already paid for our sins. By his stripes, we are healed. We're sure to go to heaven if we will only believe him.

D "Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do." (MT 7)

"Settle disputes with your adversary, amicably, before it is too late; otherwise, he might drag you into court and the court would hand you over to the authorities to be thrown in jail. I tell you, you won’t be released from there until you have paid the last penny." (MT 5)

"‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison and you visited me.’

"Then, the righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? Or a stranger and help you? Or naked and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

"And the King will tell them, ‘When you did this for the least of my brothers, you were doing it for me!’" (MT 25)

15 Don't get mad. Get even.

D "You have heard it said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But now I tell you: Don’t resist evil. But when you are slapped on one cheek, offer the other also. And if someone takes you to court to demand your shirt, let him have your coat, as well. And if anyone compels you to go a mile, go with him two miles." (MT 5)

16 We should befriend only those wealthy and successful people who can help us and not bother with no good bums and freeloaders or those sick and disabled do-nothings who can't repay or help us, at all.

D "Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind; and you will be blessed, because they won’t be able to pay you back. And you shall be rewarded when the righteous are brought back to life." (LK 14)

17 The voice of the people is the voice of God.

D Jesus turned on Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan. You are an abomination in my sight because you look at things only from the worldly point of view and not from God’s." (MT 16)

18 The great men of the world are regarded as great also in heaven.

D "As you know, the kings and great men of the earth lord it over the people. But in your case, it is different. Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant. And whoever wants to be the greatest of all must be the servant of all." (MK 10)

19 God only knows. We humans are not allowed to know everything.

D "I have used proverbs to tell you these things, but the time is coming when the truth shall not be so veiled and I will speak to you plainly about the Father." (JN 16)

"If you adhere to my teaching, you will really be my disciples; and you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free." (JN 8)

"Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you cannot understand it now. When the Spirit of Holiness and Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth." (JN 16)

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (JN 14)

20 Many are called, but only a few will respond to his call.

A "Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

"I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Be as wary as serpents and harmless as doves. But be careful of men. For you will be arrested and tried and whipped in the synagogues. And you must stand trial before governors and kings for my sake. This will give you the opportunity to tell them about me. But when they arrest you, don’t worry about what you are to do or say for you will be given the right words at the proper time. For the words you will speak will not be your own; they will come from the Spirit of your Father Who will be speaking through you.

"If anyone publicly acknowledges me, I will openly acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But if anyone publicly rejects me, so will I reject him. Don’t think that I have come to bring peace to the world. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. I came to set sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law; a man’s worst enemies shall be the members of his own household.

"Whoever loves his father or mother, son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up his cross and follow in my footsteps is not fit to be my disciple. If you cling to life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for my sake, you will save it.

"Those who welcome you are welcoming me. And when they welcome me, they are welcoming God Who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet because he is a man of God will share in his reward. And whoever welcomes good and godly men because of their godliness will share in their reward. And you can be sure that whoever gives even a drink of water to the least of my followers, because he is my follower, will certainly receive a reward." (MT 10)

Do next

1 These are Christ's thoughts, his teachings in his own words. We should listen. If however, you should favor the teachings of your Church more than these words of Jesus, then forward this email-test to your Priest or Pastor to let him know. And perhaps, you might want to stop claiming that you are Jesus' follower, because you really are not. Don't you see this, yet?

2 If you believe in Jesus more, then you should do as he asks. Openly acknowledge him to others. Pass this email on to your friends to help them resolve their own confusion.

3 If you want to take up more advanced studies, click the link below to avail of our free study courses.

The Message Made Plain

The Inner Quest study course on the Teachings of Jesus

http://message-made-plain.blogspot.com/2006/10/map-of-course.html

Why take up this study

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• The ‘THE SECRETS OF THE KINGDOM’ is the most comprehensive and complete study course available on the teachings of the Holy Spirits.

• The course provides clear answers to all your important questions about life here and hereafter.

• They compress into just a few months of study what otherwise could take many years of weekly Bible and advanced spiritual studies.

• Help and personalized guidance are available through a competent counselor-teacher by posting your query or comment at the bottom of the appropriate Blog and email-copying INNER QUEST at iq@innerquest.org.ph if you should require an earlier response.

• Exercises to monitor your progress and get you back on course are provided at the end of most of the lessons.

• There is the distinct advantage of being able to pursue your studies at your leisure, in your own time and at your own pace.

• The principles set forth in the courses have practical applications in your daily life.
  

The Secrets of the Kingdom

And after the Teachings of Jesus, just as he promised

The secrets and the "All Truth" kept hidden since the foundation of the world continue to be revealed here in most part for the first time and follow after the Basic Course. Six individually complete and comprehensive study courses grouped together into one Advanced Course.

1. Psi and Healing

A comprehensive study of the nature of psychic phenomena, their applications and the principles governing their operation. Includes scientific and religious viewpoints. A large part of the lesson deals with faith healing, what it is, how it differs from the practice of medicine, how it is effected and its implications with respect to the coming New Age.

2. The New Age Movement

A comprehensive overview of New Age phenomena and progressive teachings. Includes a thorough discussion of the influences of Eastern and Western religions and the contributions of science, politics and other popular movements. Concludes with an ordered presentation of the New Teachings of the New Age.

3. World Religions

The historical background of the major religions and a comparison study of their teachings and other features. Covers Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the New Teachings for the New Age which embraces all of them, together.

4. Teachings of the Holy Spirit 1

Introduction to the Holy Spirit, who he really is and what he does. Traces his reemergence in the mid-19th century to the present, from Spiritualism in the West to Spiritism in the East. Discusses scientific opposition and the limitations of science. Clarifies the Divine Teachings and proposes a Path to our further enlightenment.

5. Teachings of the Holy Spirit 2

Lists the qualifications and other necessary preparations that have to be made before a prospective student may be accepted for instruction. Includes many valuable insights and a more thorough discussion of all the important methodologies and guide rules to be followed by every accepted student.

6. Reincarnation and Karma

A comprehensive study of the principles, their implications and consequences that will enable every student to understand better the meaning of life and the purpose of his existence.

These are the much-awaited New and Advanced Teachings of the Holy Spirit which are now also made available to you.

Instructions to the Student

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To obtain the fullest benefit out of ‘SECRETS OF THE KINGDOM’, you are enjoined to follow these suggested procedures:

1. Read each lesson carefully, as well as any accompanying materials, should there be any.
   
   
2. After studying a particular lesson thoroughly, turn to the Review Exercises. While the solutions to some of the questions may not have been actually taken up in the lessons, you should be able to provide the correct answers by drawing from your own personal experiences. In addition, you may refer back to all the materials previously given. You will be able to gain much more from your studies if you first give thought to what the answers might be, writing them down on paper, before looking up the Solutions to the Exercises.
   
   
3. Compare your answers to the suggested Solutions and review your mistakes. Strive to understand precisely where you were wrong and determine not to commit the same mistakes again.
   
   
4. After validating your answers, you may email INNER QUEST, care of the Course Counselor, should you need any further clarifications regarding any aspect of the course. Your Course Counselor is there to help you. Do not hesitate to solicit his help in all matters pertaining to the course.
   
   
5. Proceed to the next new lesson. Repeat Steps 1 to 4 until you complete all the lessons.

According to your efforts, so shall be your rewards. May you find the Truth that you are seeking.

Understanding Psychic Phenomena and Healing

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	The Age of Aquarius
	The Spirit Entity
	ESP and other Spiritual Faculties
	Principles of Psychic Phenomena
	Scientific Bases and Discoveries
	The Mission of INNER QUEST
	The Miracle of Jesus
	Healers and Psychics Today
	Scouts of the New Age Movement
	The Nature of Disease
	Spiritual Healing and the Practice of Medicine
	Spirit Guidance
	Methods of Guidance
	Your Guardian Angels
	Summary

The Age of Aquarius

In the world, you shall have tribulation. This should be self-evident in the light of widespread poverty, intermittent wars and gross injustices. There is crime. There is exploitation. There is the rule of the mighty, not necessarily of the just. Everyone suffers. You and I, we have suffered. Because of a truth, this world is a world of pain and suffering. Indeed, this world is hell.

Nevertheless, people, when you ask them will disagree and they will tell you that this world is beautiful. But they say this only because they think that this world is the only world and that there is no other. But in the Kingdom of God, there are many mansions. Today, we will begin to know more of them.

Where there is darkness, there will come light. Where there is misery, there will be gladness. And as we here on this Earth have been experiencing so much suffering, so also shall we come to experience better times.

There is fast approaching a New Age in the life of this planet. It will be a Golden Age, an Age of Enlightenment, the Age of Aquarius. This new age will bring great changes. There will be peace and harmony, love and understanding among all men. With peace, there will be progress in all things. Music and arts will flourish. Alternative sources of energy will be discovered. There shall be an increased harnessing of both land and sea for greater food production.

There shall be interplanetary space travel and the exchange of trade and culture with our brothers from outer space. If you doubt this, you need only to consider the UFOs, the unidentified flying objects. You have believed when someone told you, "Where there’s smoke, there’s fire." Well, in this regard, there is so much smoke you can hardly breathe. Moreover, we here in these studies have communicated with these beings. And we know they exist.

There shall be more of psychic phenomena, the things that excite your fancy, the things that sent you here to us, including increased communication with the spirits of the departed. There shall be increased communication, likewise, with the Holy Spirit and other higher entities. On the whole, there shall be an influx of new knowledge and the old knowledge of the ancients will be made plain and made more accessible to more people everywhere.

The Spirit Entity

If you could only see people as they really are just at the level of our astral self, you would see them as swirling bands of color in varying degrees of light all around their physical bodies. This is something similar to the corona of the sun or the atmosphere surrounding the Earth. It’s something like the pictures of Earth taken from outer space. That light represents the life force that radiates outward from the physical body.

With a little practice, you too might be able to do it. In your quiet moments at home, in front of a mirror, naked preferably the better to see, look intently but indirectly with your peripheral vision around your body. After a little while, you should be aware of a thin bluish, grayish smoke all around you. That is the etheric body which connects the physical body to the astral body. And with more practice, you should begin to see the colors of your aura or astral body.

Yet, the physical, with the etheric body, and the astral are just the two outermost layers of our many bodies that are most visible to us and of which we are most aware. We have different bodies, which we use depending on which plane of being, which of the many mansions, we are manifesting in.

But for now, let us focus on that aura, that light. There resides the consciousness, the real being — the real you and me, hidden to many even as this true Spirit Self is situated still much farther within.

The Spirit is the life. The body is not the life. The body has no life of its own except that which the Spirit gives it. The physical body or any of our other bodies is only a puppet, a robot, a tool or a vehicle of the spirit being. The Spirit is what is far more important.

ESP and other Spiritual Faculties

While the physical body has the facility of sight, hearing, smell, taste and feeling, the Spirit entity which is the real being has much, much more. Instead of sight, it has clairvoyance. Instead of hearing, clairaudience. Instead of feeling or touch, it has clairsentience. Now when spirit beings desire to communicate one to another, they do not need to use their vocal cords, instead, they use the faculty of telepathy. If they want to affect matter in any way, instead of using their arms or hands, they employ psychokinesis or telekinesis.

Now think of yourself and visualize your body at the center with the life force, the auric light, your astral body, all around you. And imagine an exact replica of yourself separating from your body and floating upward as if you are seeing double... but don’t get cross-eyed. And let us say that the one that separates from the physical body brings the light with it. That one with the light is the real you, while the one left behind in your chair is the physical body, the now empty shell. Now there should be a silver cord (the stretched out etheric body) attaching from the now liberated spirit body and connecting to the physical body. That cord is the lifeline. And it is through this pulsing silver cord that the spirit being issues commands to its puppet to give it the illusion of life.

A spirit entity can disengage its astral body from the physical body if it has the ability to astral travel. It can go to any of the astral worlds by means of thought alone. It thinks of a place and it’s there, instantly. In the spirit state, thoughts are real and thoughts create. And it can, likewise, visit faraway places in any part of this world and other worlds.

Principles of Psychic Phenomena

Psychic vibrations are vibrations that are beyond the range of normal human perception. Lobsang Rampa likens all of creation to a piano key extending to infinity. Some vibrations are to the left or they are grosser while others are more refined and extend to the right of the piano key. All that humans can perceive with their physical senses can be contained in say, two octaves only of this piano key, while other vibrations like cat sight, dog smell, dog hearing, infra-red rays, radio waves and psychic vibrations are to the left and right of this very limited range of perception allotted to humans.

The very same principles that apply to radio and television apply also to ESP, extrasensory perception or psychic phenomena. In radio, intelligible sound is converted into radio waves or signals that are then broadcast over the atmosphere. These radio signals are transmitted and are intercepted by a receiver set which decodes these signals and transforms them back into the intelligible sounds that we hear through the speakers. The same goes for television, only that in this instance, a picture is transmitted along with the sound. In order to obtain clear reception, the receiver must be tuned in to a preset frequency. Psychic vibrations are very similar except that they are of a much higher frequency and in order to perceive these higher vibrations, a medium or psychic must have the ability to attune to higher than normal frequencies.

Scientific Bases and Discoveries

Science is not too far behind all these, although full acceptance is not yet. According to Harold Sherman who is an author of books on psychic phenomena, certain radio technicians were experimenting with the ordinary tape recorder. And according to him, these technicians set up this tape recorder in an empty, soundproof room and allowed it to record whatever. The tape was played back subsequently and, wonder of wonders, faint sounds were registered where there should have been none at all. And when the running of the tape was slowed down to a sufficient level, the sounds turned out to be voices of people who insist, to their astonishment, that they are of the so-called dead, but that they are very much alive and well and are communicating from the other side of life. Of course, not many believed them.

Another breakthrough, however, is Kirlian photography that purportedly can capture the aura on film. The aura is the light that we described (or you saw) earlier. Another group of scientists, doctors this time, experimented on patients with terminal diseases. And they discovered that, at the point of death, the body suffers a sudden weight loss of a few grams. And they concluded that something escapes or is released by the body when it dies. And they suspect that this must be the soul... Many say that religion has not kept in step with scientific advances. But we in these studies say that science has yet to come to the level of spiritual realities. But no matter.

Still another doctor, Dr. Raymond Moody interviewed patients who were resuscitated back to life after being dead and declared clinically dead for some time. And they tell of being aware of dying and traveling to a beautiful place that some could only describe as Heaven. They tell the most fantastic stories and these are detailed in Dr. Moody’s book, ‘Life after Life.’

One last one, a psychologist, Dr. Helen Wambach conducted her own experiments and she regressed her subjects by way of hypnosis to the time during birth and even before birth. And these subjects told of insights into their own past life experiences that tend to support the teaching on reincarnation. Her book is ‘Life before Life.’

The methods that are employed by researchers, by scientists, by seekers after truth may vary but the results should always concur because truth will always reveal itself.

The Mission of INNER QUEST

Yes, we know it’s a bit hard to believe in these things. But go back a few hundred years. During those times, people believed that the Earth was flat, until a few hardy sailors who were very lucky to escape being burned at the stake proved them wrong. They sailed around, over and under the flat world; and only then did people begin to reconsider their stand. But even then, only slowly. Then they were saying, "Only birds can fly." But the Wright brothers were hard of hearing. They did not know that non-feathered flight was supposed to be impossible. And so in their ignorance, they did it anyway! Again they said, "Steel cannot float." Well now, steel ships sail continuously above and below all the seas and oceans.

There is so much that is being made available to us and to the students of INNER QUEST. But these were not given to us for our own benefit alone. Rather, this knowledge is given to us to give to all who genuinely wish to partake of this knowledge. However, our task is not to provide proofs. To one who is ready, no proof is needed while to one who is not, no proof will suffice. But anyone can obtain his own proofs, provided he is willing to work and apply himself to his studies. Neither is our task to convince or to convert you because only you can convince yourselves by way of your own individual experiences. Rather, our sole objective is simply to make this knowledge available to you and to urge you to continue with your own spiritual development.

The Miracles of Jesus

All these things are, however, not entirely new. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ demonstrated many of these faculties. He was clairvoyant. He had unerring knowledge concerning many things which he had no physical means of knowing. He was telepathically in communication with all kinds of spirits, the Devil included. He turned water into wine. He multiplied loaves and fish. Storms abated and water calmed. He even walked on water.

He made the blind to see and the deaf to hear. He healed all manner of diseases — fever, leprosy, paralysis and such. He saved many from impending death. And those who were already dead, he brought back to life.

He never did explain how he managed to do these marvelous things. But then he said, "There is so much more I want to tell you... The Holy Spirit will guide you to all the truth." He also said, "All of these things that I have done, you can do, also, and you will be able to do even more."

Healers and Psychics Today

In the Book of Joel and repeated in the Book of Acts, the Lord said, "In the last days, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men dream dreams and your young men see visions."

In this age-old tradition and following in the footsteps of the Lord, today, some psychics and healers are able to manifest these very same phenomena rendering a great service to many.

But just who are these modern-day healers and psychics? These healers and psychics are our brothers-in-spirit who have developed their psychic faculties over a series of incarnations at different times and ages in this world and other worlds aided by the science prevailing during those time periods and in those worlds.

We mentioned incarnation. Now, this is easy for you. This simply means spirit entering into flesh and being temporarily imprisoned therein. We mentioned different times and ages. Relative to the Earth phase of our existence, some of these modern-day psychics and healers come from China, during the time of the ancient temples. Some come from India, like our very own Vergel Gutierrez, Jr., and were actually gurus and spiritual masters already in their past life experiences. Others come from Ancient Egypt and you know one of these to be Edgar Cayce. Others come from the lamaseries of Tibet; one of these is Lobsang Rampa. A lot of those early Christians are here now in the Philippines. This is why Filipinos are by faith predominantly Christian and we are more inclined to seek guidance from Christian entities, including the apostles, the saints, the angels and archangels, and Jesus of course. However, in Heaven, there is no segregation. All religions are one and all paths lead home.

Scouts of the New Age Movement

These healers and psychics, mediums all, are the scouts of the New Age Movement. They are at the forefront. They take on the flak. They are ridiculed and condemned by a disbelieving world. They are banned, arrested, jailed and persecuted in like manner as the ancient prophets. However, presently, they shall have some relief because the main force will be following after them. And you will be hearing more and more of what you are hearing now.

The Nature of Disease

Now aware of our true self, our spirit self, we can begin to realize that physical diseases or ailments are only outward manifestations of spiritual deficiencies.

Spiritual deficiencies or defects are those that cause imbalance or disharmony in the spirit bodies. In the astral body, these may be black holes, dark smudges, red smears or muddy colors visible to the clairvoyant healer. They are due to selfishness, impatience, intolerance, lust for the things of the flesh and the things of the world and such other traits of unrighteousness that men on Earth possess. If we are selfish, our light fades and is dull, not at all brilliant. If we are prone to anger, there are flashes of red which wreak havoc in our entire being, which cause stresses that leave us with no peace. If we are predisposed to evil doing, we cannot be harmonious with the rest of creation. We would be as the devils with charred, burnt, rotten bodies that smell.

If we misuse or abuse something we are bound to lose it. Those referred to by Jesus who come face to face with the truth but don’t see it, hear it but don’t understand it might as well be blind and deaf. Tension, anger, nervousness, fearfulness and an unforgiving nature (a hard heart) contribute greatly to heart disease. Intolerance, inflexibility or non-adaptability causes allergies. Overindulgence is the major cause of stomach troubles. The list goes on and on.

Excessive drinking which denotes a lack of discipline causes irreparable harm to the liver while smoking destroys the lungs. Those who are likely to smother with love might suffer from asthmatic attacks and find it hard to breathe. This is, after all, what they are causing their loved ones to suffer because of their possessive and overbearing kind of love. We all will suffer the consequences of our actions.

Women who needlessly or without a justifiably good enough reason aborted their pregnancies in the past, even in their past lives, may find their uterus or other related child-bearing organs at risk. Guilty men may become sterile, unable to procreate. Those who seem to devour others because of their greed or lust for power might suffer from the debilitating effects of cancer. Some of those suffering from AIDS now may have preyed on the defenseless and the weak in times past. However, these are not the only causes. In fact, the possibilities are limitless. Those afflicted, provided they know themselves really well, will be able to divine the true spiritual causes of their ailments.

Spiritual Healing and the Practice of Medicine

When a healer examines a patient, he examines not only the physical deficiency, but much more so, the deficiency in the spirit because he knows that the spirit self is the real self and that all physical disorders are only material effects of some spiritual cause. The healer, if he is really knowledgeable, not only heals the body but, also and more importantly, prescribes a course of treatment relative to the correction of the spiritual defects of the patient. All healing of the physical body cannot be lasting unless there is a corresponding correction relative to the spiritual cause. If there is no such treatment of the spiritual root cause, then the ailment will recur again and again and life after life.

When a machine breaks down, you go to a mechanic or a repairman. Similarly, when the body machine breaks down, you go, this time, to a medical doctor. In the Philippines, a medical doctor has invested eight years of study, a few years internship experience and additional years of practice to become proficient at his work. He knows all the physical causes and the course of treatment to be followed to effect a cure. And, therefore, we recommend that if you have a physical complaint, you should go to a medical doctor.

However, a medical doctor is not very knowledgeable as far as the spiritual side of life is concerned. The spiritual aspects of healing are better handled by your healers by virtue of their special training along this line. And because of the accumulated experiences derived by them over many lifetimes or incarnations, they are generally more in tune with the Divine.

Spirit Guidance

All healers, whoever they may be are under the direct guidance and supervision of the Spirits of Truth or as Christians would call them, these are the Holy Spirit. It is these Spirits of Truth who see to it that those who should be healed are, in fact, healed and those who should not be healed are given appropriate guidance. Remember and this is important —- All things are given according to the needs not so much of the physical body but according to the needs of the spirit self.

Methods of Healing

Because of the vast differences in the experiences of individual healers and psychics, their techniques or styles are likewise so diverse. As far as diagnostic techniques are concerned, some avail of clairvoyance. They can sense the disharmony in the aura. They are able to see all sorts of colors or bands of colors and shades that denote clearly the actual condition of the patient. Some healers avail of telepathy. And they get in touch with the subconscious mind or higher self of the patient or the guide of the patient or their own guides who communicate to them the information they require. Other healers have an easy time of it. They just go to sleep, just like Edgar Cayce. Edgar Cayce, in company with his own guide, had access to the Akashic Records which are true and accurate records of all that has ever happened.

As far as healing styles are concerned, some prefer magnetic healing or the laying on of hands. This can be likened to recharging a dead car battery. It is simply the transfusion or transfer of recreative energy to a person who is temporarily unable to regenerate this energy himself. Some healers prefer the use of blessed or energized oil or water. Some prefer the application of herbal solutions. Others prefer to employ psychic surgery. Without benefit of anesthesia and in the absence of surgical instruments, the psychic surgeon can perform painless surgery, often with miraculous results. In many Spiritist centers, those mediums who are not as yet proficient at healing simply voluntarily relinquish control of their bodies to their Spirit guides who do the actual healing. Still others prefer to rely on the efficacy of prayer, invoking direct Spirit intervention.

Your Guardian Angels

You have heard of guardian angels. These are for real. They are our elder brothers, our friends and guides who love us and who are interested in our development. During your times of need, they can be available to help you. And if you were only more receptive, you would be able to sense their presence. They can help you a great deal if you would only be more open to their guidance. Strive to be more attuned to the Divine.

Summary

Now it’s time for us to review. There is a coming Golden Age. We are spirit beings; we are not the physical body. Psychic abilities are our natural and inherent properties and they can be further developed in order that we may come to a greater awareness of the deeper realities of life. Physical defects are only outer manifestations of some spiritual defect; such that when you go to a medical doctor, you go mainly to repair some broken down body mechanism, but when you go to a healer, you seek for a healing at the level of your true self, the spirit self. All of these phenomena shall be brought to the world under the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit or the Spirits of Truth.

A few hundred years ago, one of our ascended brothers summarized all these truths for us so simply and yet so beautifully. His name was Francis and it was he who said:

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, joy.

"O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console: to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."

Lesson 1 -- Exercises

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Write whether you AGREE or you DISAGREE with the following statements and then, briefly, in a few sentences, explain why or why not (5 points per item)

1. We live only once, therefore, we should live life to the fullest.
   
   
2. All men are born equal.
   
   
3. It cannot be true if it cannot be confirmed by scientific investigation.
   
   
4. Occult practices are of the Devil.
   
   
5. We are humans with spirits or souls.
   
   
6. Ghosts are figments of the imagination.

7. Whites are superior to blacks.
   
   
8. Diseases are outward physical manifestations of character deficiencies.
   
   
9. Diseases should be totally eradicated.

10. Death is the end of life.
    
    
11. A healer can heal our bodies but only we can heal ourselves.
    
    
12. There is no life on other planets.
    
    
13. Psychic powers won’t work if used for evil purposes.
    
    
14. Even an inept healer can heal if God so wills.
    
    
15. Psychic surgery is the highest form of healing.
    
    
16. Healers and mediums are not entitled to material compensation, as God’s gifts should be given freely.
    
    
17. Healers are always in the service of God.
    
    
18. The ability to heal is a gift from God.
    
    
19. Psychic development is necessary before we can advance spiritually.
    
    
20. The physical body is just as important as the spirit self.

Lesson 1 -- Solutions

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5 points per item

1. We live only once, therefore, we should live life to the fullest.
   
   D. In pursuit of spiritual development, we live again and again in different physical bodies in order to learn and gain experiences. This is Reincarnation.
   
   
2. All men are born equal.
   
   D. All spirits were created equal. Since then however, each of us through our own efforts has attained to varying levels in the order of evolution. When we are born on earth, we bring with us the essence of all that we have already learned in our past incarnations. This explains why, even in our early years, some of us are more developed in knowledge and talents than others.
   
   
3. It cannot be true if it cannot be confirmed by scientific investigation.
   
   D. Science, as a general rule, accepts only what the five senses can perceive and those that can be perceived by the most advanced scientific instruments. However, there is so much more in nature that lie beyond the realm of the physical. These non-material vibrations are as yet undetectable by our most powerful scientific instruments and hence, cannot be accepted by science. However, the more spiritual things and higher spiritual laws exist and, in fact, take precedence over those matters and concerns that are purely physical.
   
   
4. Occult practices are of the Devil.
   
   D. Occult practices are simply put, those practices which are subject to natural laws but which laws are hidden or largely unknown. Therefore, we need only to study them to better understand their operation. Occult practices are neither good nor bad but take on such a character depending on the use to which they are applied.
   
   
5. We are humans with spirits or souls.
   
   D. We are spirit beings with a soul (causal self) which distills the essence of all that we are learning. In our journey to perfection, we make use of many different bodies (vehicles) that enable us to manifest and learn our lessons in the appropriate plane of nature. Humanity is just one of the elementary stages that we undergo in our pursuit of spiritual perfection.
   
   The soul survives death and is the temporary repository of all that we have learned and all the pending karmic consequences incurred from our past incarnations that we will have to meet and resolve in future incarnations.
   
   However, once all the lessons of the lower planes are learned or the soul is perfected, then the soul, itself, will be merged and assimilated into the spirit consciousness.
   
   
6. Ghosts are figments of the imagination.
   
   D. A ghost is a spirit entity that is no longer attached to its physical body but is now clothed, instead, in its astral body. A ghost is very real, indeed, and can be seen by those who are clairvoyant.
   
   Usually, we use the word ghost to refer to discarnate entities and earthbound spirits that are unable to immediately transition to the Spirit World because they are still very much attached to matter or because they feel the need to attend to some unfinished business.
   
   They are allowed to stay here a while longer mainly to prove the survival of the Spirit and the reality of the Spirit World. Especially, they are the most qualified to apprise us of the conditions of life immediately after death. The added insights enable us to be better prepared for the time when we ourselves will be transitioning to the Greater Reality.
   
   
7. Whites are superior to blacks.
   
   D. Spiritual attainment does not depend on the color of one’s skin. Character is the true basis of spirituality and superiority.
   
   
8. Diseases are outward physical manifestations of character deficiencies.
   
   A. Spiritual defects or character deficiencies lie at the root of all physical disorders. They are due to ignorance and underdevelopment and manifest outward in the physical body in the form of diseases and ailments. By studying our own particular ailments, we should be able to discover our faults and weaknesses.
   
   
9. Diseases should be totally eradicated.
   
   D. Our spiritual deficiencies should be eradicated or our character should be reformed and refined. However, diseases serve a very useful purpose by awakening us to our deficiencies in character. Without them, it may be very much harder for us to realize our faults. Diseases have very great instructional value and are very necessary for those of us still here on Earth, and so should and cannot be totally eradicated.
   
   
10. Death is the end of life.
    
    D. At death, we cast aside our gross physical body and we transition into a far greater reality. Life then continues in the Spirit World. It is, in fact, a resumption of the true life, a return to our true home.
    
    
11. A healer can heal our bodies but only we can heal ourselves.
    
    A. To effect a complete healing, the root causes at the spiritual level must also be addressed. Otherwise, even if the healer is able to heal the body, the ailment will recur over and over again. Regarding the spiritual, everything must come as a result of our own efforts and strivings. In the final analysis, only we can heal ourselves.
    
    
12. There is no life on other planets.
    
    D. According to clairvoyants and astral travelers, there is life on other planets but not necessarily in the form to which we are accustomed. In fact, we were previous occupants and students and, in the future, we will be continuing with our development in these other worlds.
    
    
13. Psychic powers won’t work if used for evil purposes.
    
    D. The law operates whether used for good or bad. However, if we sow evil, then evil will return to us. We reap what we sow.
    
    
14. Even an inept healer can heal if God so wills.
    
    A. Nothing is impossible to God. He makes do with what is available, even an inexperienced and bumbling medium-healer. In fact, God can heal even without any physical counterpart healer.
    
    
15. Psychic surgery is the highest form of healing.
    
    D. All methods of healing are equal in value. What is important is that the patient gets healed.
    
    
16. Healers and mediums are not entitled to material compensation, as God’s gifts should be given freely.
    
    D. Mediums and healers attained to their level of proficiency only after continuous development in past incarnations. Therefore, their skills are definitely not freely gotten gifts. In addition, they render a valuable service for which they are entitled to fair compensation. Moreover, the time that a medium or a healer spends in pursuit of a normal occupation is time wasted, because such should have been best utilized in the development of his mediumship or in the service of those in need.
    
    Jesus agrees and so he instructed his disciples to freely accept the hospitality of the people in return for their spiritual services. He told them, "Those you help should feed and care for you. A laborer is worthy of his hire."
    
    
17. Healers are always in the service of God.
    
    D. They are if they serve with God or service to their fellowmen foremost in their minds and hearts, but not if they are merely into healing to serve their own selfish material interests or if they put their own interests first above that of their patients.
    
    
18. The ability to heal is a gift from God.
    
    D. The ability to heal, like any other skill is the result of development even in past lives and, therefore, it is not a gift and neither is it freely gotten.
    
    
19. Psychic development is necessary before we can advance spiritually.
    
    D. Spiritual development relates to character development and does not depend on the possession of psychic faculties. These two are distinct and separate and their development may proceed independently from one another.
    
    
20. The physical body is just as important as the spirit self.
    
    D. The spirit is what is important. The physical body is expendable and disposable. Once it has served its purpose, it is discarded like any used clothing, and is replaced with another that is new and more appropriate when we next reincarnate.

The New Age Movement

..

	The Renaissance Experience
	A Spiritual Renaissance
	Opposition is a Healthy Thing
	Rationale behind the New Age Movement
	The Progressive Teachings of the New Age Movement and their Attendant Phenomena
	…Hindu-Buddhist Influences
	…Traditional Christian Influences
	…Other Supportive Influences
	…New Spiritual Teachings
	Conclusions

In recent times, the world has witnessed the influx of seemingly new concepts and teachings, that many regard as part of the New Age Movement. As is the case with any new knowledge, disagreements and controversies have arisen.

The advocates of religion have branded these concerned groups demonic, if not fanatic. Scientists are quick to denounce certain of these phenomena as fraudulent and mere magician’s tricks. Many in the West question Eastern-influenced teachings because they appear to oppose their own long-held beliefs. All are suspicious and cautious, not really knowing what to think of all these new-fangled ideas and teachings.

The Renaissance Experience

What is happening today has happened before. Beginning some time during the 14th century, emerging from its Dark Ages, the Old World experienced a revival of ancient culture, the brilliance of the Greek and the Roman accompanied by a general enlightenment of all, now known as the Renaissance.

It was the time of Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy,’ Petrarch’s poetry and high ideas, Boccaccio’s ‘Decameron,’ and the poet-scholar Erasmus’ writings; their work inciting renewed interest in literature. Through them and other Renaissance writers, new and revolutionary ideas enabled mankind to rise from darkness into the Light. With the invention of printing at about 1450, the dissemination of these intellectual riches was facilitated to a high degree.

Together with this awakening of the human intellect came a great appreciation for the fine arts. New insights, new styles and new processes accompanied the rise of new ideas and interpretations of grace, harmony and beauty. The arts of painting, sculpture and architecture rivaled the grandeur of ancient times. The full flowering of Renaissance art came with the genius of Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Still later into the Renaissance period, there were the writings of Cervantes and Shakespeare; the invention of the opera as a musical form, the invention of the compass and gunpowder, the discoveries of Copernicus and Galileo, the voyages of Columbus and Magellan and the beginnings of the banking system and insurance underwriting — an explosion in light and new information.

All these did not come easily. Of course, there was opposition, even persecution. Certainly, there were difficulties experienced by these great innovators and discoverers. Ask any man who espouses a new or revolutionary idea.

A Spiritual Renaissance

Today, we are at the initial stages of an even greater Renaissance, a spiritual regeneration. The main focus of the New Age Movement being an expansion in consciousness and spiritual enlightenment, its effects are bound to be far reaching, all-pervading and profound.

The old truths and even the Occult teachings are now being aired out in the open allowing everyone the opportunity to study them more in depth. Where before, we could only speculate at best, based on incomplete and false information, now, all things are clarified and made plain for all to judge. However, as in the first Renaissance, there will continue to be fear of the unknown, fear of new knowledge, general distrust, unbelief, opposition and persecution.

Opposition Is a Healthy Thing

To oppose a new idea is healthy and even necessary. We need to ferret out mistakes and weed out false concepts before we can arrive at the correct conclusions. But in so doing, we need not be confrontational or antagonistic. And we should be open even to new teachings should our studies provide adequate confirmation of the facts. After all, we will be the ones to benefit from all these. In fact, there is no other way to progress.

Rationale behind the New Age Movement

According to the Occult teachings, periodically, every 2,000 years or more, a World Leader and Teacher comes to continue our divine instruction. Every new age then brings new learning and very great changes. It is thus prophesied that at the beginning of this New Age of Enlightenment, the Age of Aquarius, Christ will come again.

In teaching new things, there are certain recommended steps to be taken, rules to be followed. We start where the student is presently situated, hence the reintroduction of the old Eastern teachings and the Christian revival movements.

We are then brought back to the basics from which we can continue to build. We take on the simple things first before we can advance to the more complex. Once our foundational knowledge is already sufficiently sound, then we can undergo a slow methodical upgrading in the instruction. In this upgrading, new ideas and teachings become more easily acceptable when accompanied by related developments in science and elsewhere. In attaining to its objectives, the New Age Movement is following this very same procedure.

The Progressive Teachings of the New Age Movement and their Attendant Phenomena

Hindu-Buddhist Influences

1. Proliferation of Many Gurus
   
   Different gurus teach various aspects of the old Hindu teachings. Krishnamurti focuses on awareness of the deeper realities of life. The Maharishi teaches Transcendental Meditation or TM, the regular practice of which will bring enlightenment and wellbeing. Prabhupada and Jagad Guru expound on the intellectual teachings and espouse devotional service to the Lord as the way to salvation. Sai Baba puts to practice the teaching on love and devotional service, and urges his disciples to do the same.
   
   
2. Meditation
   
   The gurus teach that through meditation, we will be able to obtain insights relating to the true nature of reality. More, we can have the actual experience to verify the propositions. At the same time, we will be able to arrive at a clear course of action towards the attainment of our objectives, spiritual and otherwise.
   
   
3. Yoga
   
   Physical yoga exercises, the proper choice of food and dieting provide for a more efficient and responsive physical body. We can then be much more effective in whatever work we set out to do. Other yoga practices relate to observances and practices which if done correctly and religiously should bring discipline and other great spiritual benefits.
   
   
4. Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, the Summit Lighthouse, the Theosophical Society and Lobsang Rampa
   
   In line with the work of the Great White Brotherhood, the adepts and spiritual masters overseeing divine instruction on Earth, certain individuals or groups are periodically commissioned to provide continuing instruction to the people in the world relating to different aspects or levels of the Occult teachings.
   
   Begun centuries earlier and so cannot be considered as part of the New Age Movement, Freemasonry nonetheless is a forerunner and their members continue to build positive thought forms and are active in community service. The Rosicrucians are involved in the development of their inner spiritual faculties. The Summit Lighthouse publishes books and conducts teachings that present the Eastern teachings in a context that Christians should find easier to accept.
   
   Through Madame Blavatsky, the Great White Brotherhood, which includes advanced beings of all races and creeds, reintroduces the Ancient Wisdom and clarifies the Divine Plan. She details many of the technical aspects of the teachings relating to Cosmogony, all about the cosmos, and Anthropogenesis, the development of the human race, in the ‘Secret Doctrine,’ the guidebook of the Theosophists. For the men of Aquarius, the Ancient Wisdom of Theosophy is destined to become the motherload of technical knowledge and information concerning the Spiritual and the Divine to which all later revelations and all new upgradings must relate.
   
   The dissertations of the Lama Lobsang Rampa are to this date the more authoritative resources in this series. Thoroughly versed in the philosophy of the East and with his spiritual faculties so very highly developed, he elucidates on the practical aspects of the teachings in a way that only those who really know can ever do.
   
   
5. Reincarnation and Karma
   
   Much deeper insights and clearer, more rational explanations are now made available to everyone. The Hindus believe in Transmigration which teaches that the spirit entity returns in a form, animal or human, which is determined by the desires and attitudes of the spirit, itself, at the time of its death. Buddhism, however, confines reincarnation to the human form. Theosophy teaches that souls develop progressively upward. Evolved group souls of plants move on to become the group souls of animals. After animal evolution, the group souls become individualized as humans. For special purposes, Avatars on special missions in our world may transmigrate to another human body, but always with the permission and willing participation of the previous occupant. Metempsychosis relates to our transferring from our old body to another body more suited to the plane or planet that we are moving to.
   
   Karma is the corollary law that governs the causes and effects that manifest in every life. It is likewise God's provisioning of the very conditions, circumstances and situations that we will encounter in our life, the lessons that will enable every spirit entity to learn and develop itself.
   
   
6. Oneness, the God within, Pantheism
   
   There is the principle of oneness of all creation. God is within us. God is a part of us and we, a part of God. We are One. Three stages or levels of the same basic teaching. Awareness of these truths comes slowly. Initially, we are self-conscious, selfish individual entities. Then we begin to regard ourselves as only a part of a larger unit, the family. Then going farther into this important principle by succeeding stages, we become a nation, a whole world, a Universe, the Cosmos, the whole of creation and, finally, a god at-one with God.

Traditional Christian Influences

1. Catholic Involvements
   
   During the last few decades, certain needs of the faithful were not satisfactorily addressed. The flock required additional and more personalized instruction that the members of the clergy were hard pressed to provide. Many lay people wanted to more actively involve themselves in religious activities. As a consequence, some programs were initiated to meet the need.
   
   The Cursillo, a mini-course in Catholic doctrine, became a popular movement in the 60s and 70s. The rollista’s style of lecturing was very entertaining and contrasted favorably against the then morose, sedate and unexciting sermons delivered by the priests. Songs were deeply moving and the lyrics were catchy. Close camaraderie was fostered. However, after a surge of spirituality, the emotional appeal of the movement waned and many went back to their old error-filled ways.
   
   Other movements took over. Charismatic groups sprouted and they provided the needed continuing instruction. Physical ailments and other equally pressing problems were now prayed over and the intercession and help of the Holy Spirit were invoked. Such cures and solutions obtained added greatly to the popularity of the movement. Later, the Life in the Spirit seminars replaced the Cursillo. And to address the problems of married couples, the Marriage Encounter program was initiated and now continues to attract a large following.
   
   The Family Rosary Crusade came about as a result of Mary’s plea for the conversion of people’s hearts. Fueled by interest in the continuing Marian apparitions, many have directed their thoughts and prayers toward world peace and understanding among people of all nations. At the same time, they are reminded that a Greater World beyond earth waits for everyone.
   
   
2. Protestant Revivals
   
   Many evangelists formed their own groups which promote Biblical teachings and some are able to effect miraculous healings with the help of the Holy Spirit. Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, Benny Hinn, Rex Humbard and the fallen Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart are only a few of these. Many are responding to the Lord’s commission to his disciples to preach his message to all nations. Many now swear to being "Born Again" and to having a personal relationship with the Lord.
   
   
3. Catholic and Protestant In-fighting
   
   In the unfolding of the gospel messages to more people, to many for the first time, the same issues and questions that actually caused the separation of the church are again brought back to the attention of the people. Disagreements and discussions relating to indulgences, the reverence for Mary and the worship of representative images and pictures, to name a few, enable us to more intelligently evaluate these issues.

Other Supportive Influences

1. In Politics
   
   Cory’s People Power toppled a world class dictator, and inspired similar peaceful mass movements all around the globe. The cold war ended with the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, the fall of Communism in Russia and the weakening of Communist power in China. A concerted world action was mounted against Iraq and Yugoslavia, where Christian NATO forces found themselves fighting against Christian Serbs, putting their lives at risk to protect ethnic Albanian Muslims preempting the possibility of another holocaust and the spread of an even greater conflict in all of Europe. These are some the most momentous events in recent years. And many equate them to the triumph of good over evil and the victory of God over the Godless.
   
   
2. In Science
   
   We are now at the beginning of the Space Age. We have gone to the moon, walked its surface and come back. Soon, we will be meeting our alien brothers face to face. We are in the Age of Computers and the Internet, which has revolutionized our information processing systems. We are also in the Age of Electronics and Satellite Communications providing for the instant exchange of information worldwide.
   
   
3. In the Environment
   
   Our attention is now riveted to the problems of the environment. To preserve the ecological balance and the food chain, we can no longer continue to dump our wastes anywhere we please. Certain committed groups now promote wildlife conservation to save endangered species from extinction. In order to save our lungs and our lives, we need to resolve the problem of pollution. We need to plant more trees to prevent erosion and killer floods. The nations need to cooperate in order to effectively address the inter-related problems of acid rain, global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer protecting us from the harmful rays of the sun.
   
   We are all travelers occupying a single spaceship, the planet earth. If we harm any part of our world, we ultimately harm ourselves. Our awareness of this truth will provide us the means to better understand the teaching on Oneness.
   
   
4. Popular Movements
   
   Pro-lifers battle the Pro-choicers out in the streets, in front of abortion clinics, in church pulpits, on radio, television and in print media; all the better for us to decide on the merits of their case. The Gay Rights Movement is a part of the continuing fight for the rights of the oppressed minority and the underprivileged. It follows after the war on slavery and equal rights for blacks. The ascendance of women to positions of equal power comes after Golda Meier, Margaret Thatcher, Cory Aquino, Hillary Clinton and Indira Gandhi, proving that one’s sex is neither a handicap nor a hindrance.
   
   
5. Unidentified Flying Objects and Alien Beings
   
   We will continue to be bombarded with news and stories concerning UFOs. However, our confusion will dissipate when, as prophesied, these expectedly friendly alien beings make their formal appearance. Eventually, we will be able to interact with these highly advanced beings to our greater benefit. They are very much a part of the coming new age.

New Spiritual Teachings

1. The Power of Thought
   
   Before anything else was, there was thought. And everything came about as a consequence of thought. Thought creates. This is the principle behind all the positive thinking that certain groups teach — those groups that practice visualization techniques and those that decree into being by the power of their imagination. Two of them are the Science of Mind and Silva Mind Control. But the faithful are also firm believers and practitioners. When we pray, believing that we have already received what we ask for, it is this same principle that comes into play. However, instead of wisely utilizing their newfound ability to further the goal of spiritual development, many use it to obtain material objectives and things.
   
   
2. Psychic Phenomena
   
   In recognition of these widely experienced occurrences, the science of Parapsychology was born. And now, psychical research is well respected and conducted with the support of governments, the scientific community and the academe.
   
   The assistance of psychics has been much sought after in the investigation of gruesome crimes. The prophecies of Nostradamus have been very well scrutinized even by governments with a view to gaining political advantage; and where there were unfavorable overtones, the prophecies were downplayed and discredited.
   
   Uri Geller once was the toast of society when his telekinetic powers became publicized. There have been countless instances of telepathic communication even among ordinary men and women. And there are many accounts of out-of-body-experiences and astral traveling by those who have experienced these themselves. While some have attained to their psychic experiences through drug-induced methods.
   
   By whatever means attained, these experiences provide incontrovertible proofs and are the magical windows from which we can look and know the nature of the True Reality, the World that lies beyond Earth.
   
   
3. Healing Arts
   
   Many new alternative methods of healing are also gaining acceptance. New health foods, fine crystals, herbs and even pyramids are being availed of. The holistic healing method considers not just the physical condition but also the patient’s spiritual, mental and emotional wellbeing. Edgar Cayce even prescribed certain poisons to be used as medicine and he reveals the direct relationship between our diseases and ailments and the mistakes we have committed in our past incarnations.
   
   
4. Proofs of Survival of the Spirit Consciousness and the Existence of the Spirit World
   
   Researches have been done on patients who died and were declared clinically dead, but who were later resuscitated back to life. One such researcher was Dr. Raymond Moody. His book ‘Life after Life’ was, to many in the West, an eye-opener. But he was not alone.
   
   At the risk of losing her career, Shirley MacLaine boldly announced the availability of communication with the Other-World through channeling. Spirit guides are now being contacted everyday, even with the lights turned on. Arthur Ford sends his messages through Ruth Montgomery by automatic typing. Seth speaks on the technical aspects of spiritual reality to the scientists. Nature spirits, dwarves and elves continue their playful encounters with humans.
   
   
5. Reincarnation and Karma
   
   In 325, Emperor Constantine after being converted to the Faith called the first ecumenical council at Nicaea to settle questions of doctrine. This resulted in the adoption of the Nicene Creed, which later became the basis of all church doctrine from that day forward.
   
   It was here that certain books were selected for inclusion in the "Authorized" Bible while others were banned and discredited. It was here, also, that the teachings on Reincarnation and Karma were disauthorized. All references to such principles were then expunged from the sacred books and these teachings were henceforth suppressed and regarded as heretic.
   
   However, in the Bible itself even now, there are still veiled allusions to the Doctrine of Reincarnation which have survived the rewriting of the Scriptures. They can be seen in the references to Elijah returning in the flesh as John the Baptist and to Jesus, himself, before he became Jesus. In addition, there are the comments of Jesus’ disciples regarding the reasons why a man came to be born blind. And Karma is only the sowing and reaping mentioned by St. Paul. There are other passages that are just as elucidating to the earnest seeker.
   
   What Jesus himself taught, his so-called followers just a few hundred years after his death denied. Deciding that they know better than their Lord, the church leaders voted to drop reincarnation and karma from the catechetical teachings. However, the Truth will not be denied for long.
   
   More recently, these teachings have been reinstituted into Scripture through their inclusion in the ‘Aquarian Gospel’ by Levi. Moreover, the Edgar Cayce files are replete with illustrative life readings. Arthur Ford contributes some interesting insights relating to prominent personalities who have only recently departed. Lobsang Rampa, the Tibetan Lama, ably provides the rationale behind these principles. For the scientific-minded, Dr. Ian Stevenson through his 2,000 researched cases, Dr. Helen Wambach through her experiments in hypnotic regressions and many others have presented their own evidences in support of reincarnation. The books are in our stores.
   
   
6. Spiritism, Guidance by the Holy Spirit
   
   As foretold by Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit or the Spirits of Truth are now extending their divine guidance and instruction to everyone. Their objective is to facilitate our enlightenment and further our spiritual development.
   
   In this school, instruction is not only based on the second-hand information or hearsay evidence contained in the Bible and other revered writings. Instead, each student is afforded the special opportunity to prove the theoretical teachings by drawing from his own personal experiences.
   
   Those who are so inclined are aided in the development of their spiritual faculties. Those who prefer to serve in other ways are similarly assisted. Although Spiritism is not for everyone, those who genuinely aspire to get to heaven should seriously consider attending this school.

Conclusions

From East to West, the unfolding continues. The whole world must be prepared for the coming of the Age of Revelation.

Today, in place of the confusion, there is the beginning of learning. From the various books on positive thinking to personal psychic experiences and travels to worlds beyond: from UFO sightings to ‘Life after Life’s’ "Beings of Light;" from the evangelists’ prayers for healing and the 700 Club’s words of knowledge to the bare-handed operations of psychic surgeons; from the teachings of the gurus and the Ancient Wisdom of Theosophy to the dissertations of Lobsang Rampa; from the speaking in tongues and the Marian apparitions and messages to communication with Spirit guides and Holy Spirits, the Truth is on the march.

We have had enough of half-truths, false allegations and blind teachings. Today, we can begin to see the True Light. Through our own personal experiences, we can learn and understand far more than ever before. We only need to open up our hearts and minds. We only need to let the Light shine in.

Lesson 2 -- Exercises

1. What is the New Age Movement and what is its purpose?
   
   
2. Do you find any of the teachings objectionable? If so, why?
   
   
3. Which of the teachings do you find reasonable and acceptable? Why?
   
   
4. If you had the opportunity, would you involve yourself in the New Age Movement? In what specific area would you most likely participate?
   
   
5. Having completed the entire lesson, how do you now view the coming New Age?
   
   
6. What do you feel is your mission in life?
   
   
7. How do you propose to accomplish your stated mission? Make your plans and commit them to writing. Memorize them and refer to them daily until you are very clear as to what you should do with the rest of your life.

Lesson 2 -- Solutions

1. What is the New Age Movement and what is its purpose?
   
   
2. Do you find any of the teachings objectionable? If so, why?
   
   
3. Which of the teachings do you find reasonable and acceptable? Why?
   
   
4. If you had the opportunity, would you involve yourself in the New Age Movement? In what specific area would you most likely participate?
   
   
5. Having completed the entire lesson, how do you now view the coming New Age?
   
   
6. What do you feel is your mission in life?
   
   
7. How do you propose to accomplish your stated mission? Make your plans and commit them to writing. Memorize them and refer to them daily until you are very clear as to what you should do with the rest of your life.

There are no recommended Solutions to this set of Exercises. The answers are for each student to divine for himself.

World Religions

..

	Hinduism
	Judaism
	Shintoism
	Taoism
	Confucianism
	Buddhism
	Christianity
	Islam
	Spiritualism and Spiritism
	Conclusions

The Buddhists have a saying: "A thousand monks, a thousand religions." This is true also for all other faiths, as well. Still, the position of the various schools of religious thought as herein expounded are according to the thoughts expressed by the principal proponents or founders inasmuch as, in many instances, the original concepts may have been changed according the varied interpretations of their less enlightened followers. In any case, the objectionable features in the teachings and in the practices which have resulted because of such changes should not be allowed to depreciate the value of the original concepts and teachings.

Hinduism

In India, when the world was young some 4,500 years ago, the Vedas, the Indian Holy Scriptures, were prepared. Embodying the complicated combination of religious beliefs and social customs of the Indians, they later became the chief source of the teachings known in an earlier form as Brahminism and later on as Hinduism. The Hindus believe in personal gods. The most important among them are Brahma, the Father of All, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Siva, the Destroyer. They believe in the transmigration of souls, which teaches that at death, the soul transfers into some other creature, be it human or animal, as a direct consequence of one’s karma or the effects of one’s thoughts and deeds. This process continues until such time that the soul is able to attain to the state of Nirvana, and free itself from the rounds of rebirth, old age, disease and death.

Four Castes

As far as the human form of life is concerned, the Hindus believe in four progressive castes. These are the Brahmans or the priests, the Kshatriyas or the temporal rulers and soldiers, the Vaishyas or the merchants, artists and farmers and the Sudras or laborers. All who fall outside these four main groups are considered as outcastes or untouchables, the lowest of the low.

Four Goals

Hinduism lays stress on the need for self-realization and the awareness of deeper realities that overshadow our material and physical existence. Consequently, therefore, advocates of Hinduism believe that man has four basic goals in life.

The first and foremost goal is to attain to the union of Atman, the individual soul, with Brahman, the supersoul or God, which alone can bring eternal happiness.

Another important goal is the fulfillment of all normal human desires, including the enjoyment of a life of pleasure, even sexual pleasure. So, to the Hindus, there is no truth to the teaching that sex is evil. And to the Hindus, it is acceptable for a person to enjoy life’s pleasures. Many people feel, mistakenly, that sex and other worldly pleasures are bad for the soul. To the Hindus, however, these worldly pleasures are perfectly natural and should be experienced first before we can actually outgrow our desire for them and advance to the more spiritual goals in life.

A third goal is participation in economic activity and contribution to public welfare. Finally, these goals are to be pursued while one undertakes to live the right kind of moral or ethical life.

Four Stages of Life

In the pursuit of these goals, man enters into four stages of life. He first becomes a student who initiates studies mainly in preparation for the material aspects of life.

Then, he becomes a householder, at which stage, he is able to pursue three of the four goals, namely, a life of pleasure, participation in economic activity and right living.

Subsequently, as he advances in age, he might decide to retire and live the life of a hermit. Here, he withdraws from his business or professional activities. Likewise, he relinquishes direct family responsibilities and duties and enters a hermitage for further study of the more spiritual realities or otherwise engages in deeper reflections into the meaning of life. This is not a cop-out as some may think, but the hermit is withdrawing from his worldly involvements in order that he may be able to prepare himself for much greater service.

Finally, given the opportunity and the inclination, one could become a spiritual pilgrim, which is characterized by one’s complete renunciation of self and of all personal attachments, even family ties. After which, the pilgrim turns to a life of service to others. The pilgrim goes where God directs and helps whomever is worthy, all the while, trusting to divine providence by receiving needed material aid from those who are the recipients of his spiritual services. In every instance, however, such material aid comes to him never as a favor, but as a matter of right. In his travels, he promotes love and understanding. He provides guidance to all who ask and who are willing to listen by sharing the wisdom he has attained to over the years.

The Hindu Way to Salvation

Spiritual guidance is provided to the unenlightened through the Avatars or highly advanced beings under a system of discipleship whereby these Avatars, gurus or spiritual masters teach disciples or students the way towards their own salvation. According to these gurus, eventual salvation comes by way of:

1. Devotional service,
   
   
2. The accumulation of knowledge, or
   
   
3. The rendering of service to fellowmen or the accumulation of good karma.

For most people, however, who may not have the time or the desire to pursue their spiritual goals owing to their involvement in the primary material objectives such as earning a living, help and guidance are more conveniently sought through minor gods and goddesses, thus, the preponderance of personal gods to whom one can ask for special favors.

While this practice does not enable one to reach his eventual goal, he, at least, moves a step nearer to it. This suffices many, until the time comes, in their subsequent incarnations, that they are able to pursue the more spiritual goals directly to attain to their own salvation.

Judaism

4,000 years ago, evil priests rose to power and changed the laws to suit their own selfish aims. The teachings were distorted and darkness ruled the land. People, naturally, became all confused. And, consequently, through their fear and ignorance, many turned to the worship of idols. But a few masters remained true to the faith. In Chaldea, a pious Brahmin named Terah had a son whom he named ABrahm, after the One. And in order to counter such idol-worship and to bring the people back to God, God spoke through Abraham to the Hebrews. And through Abraham, God slowly revealed different aspects of Himself. Subsequently after, this religion became known as Judaism, which means the religious belief of the Jewish people, the descendants of the ancient Hebrews.

Basic Beliefs

The Jews came to believe in one God and the oneness of all creation. They believe in the fatherhood of God and that all men are brothers, equal in the sight of God. Hence, they do not have lesser divinities or saints. They espouse to no special belief in an individual afterlife or in salvation. Instead, they believe in living good lives in this world and achieving such immortality as they can through their descendants. They believe in the coming of a Messianic period and not in a Messiah in which peace and earthly perfection will prevail. They believe, likewise, in charity as a way of life and the whole-hearted performance of prescribed rituals. The Jews have no priests; instead, they have rabbis. A rabbi is a teacher-adviser who is concerned mainly with the deeper and more spiritual aspects of life. However, their pronouncements or suggestions are not mandatory, but are subject to voluntary acceptance. The principal beliefs of all branches of Judaism are monotheism, virtuous living, tolerance and peace.

The Law of Moses

It was through Moses that God gave the laws to govern the early Jews. Sometime at about 1300 BC, God issued the Ten Commandments. They are:

1. I am the Lord, your God. You shall not have strange gods before Me.
   
   
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
   
   
3. Remember to keep holy, the Sabbath day.
   
   
4. Honor your Father and Mother.
   
   
5. You shall not kill.
   
   
6. You shall not commit adultery.
   
   
7. You shall not steal.
   
   
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
   
   
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
   
   
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s things.

Shintoism

In ancient Japan, some 2,500 years ago, the Japanese professed to a combination of nature and ancestor worship. All Japanese believe that they are descendants of the sun-goddess, Amaterasu, and that all of them are members of one family headed by the Emperor. Being a part of one family, individual Japanese are more inclined to subjugate their own personal interests to the interest of the whole family, which ultimately resulted in their total subservience to their Emperor. This subservience in turn was subsequently exploited politically, culminating in World War II and the renouncing by the Emperor of his divinity as well as the discouragement of this religious thought. However, the teachings on selflessness, simplicity and simple living have been retained, while the strong traits of discipline and self-esteem are part of the ancient Japanese tradition.

Shintoism is, however, not exclusive. The Japanese people were free to accept other religions. Today, most Japanese are Buddhists, Buddhism having been introduced in Japan as early as 600. A few or less than 1% are Christians through the efforts of St. Francis Xavier beginning 1549.

Taoism

In China, about the year 600 BC, Lao Tse taught Taoism or "The Way" stressing simplicity and acceptance. He frowned on the use of force to effect change and espoused, instead, an effortless way of living. He spoke against reformers with their long lists of rules to follow and advocated doing what comes naturally. He urged men to follow the unstructured way of nature, the Tao. The man of Tao is anxious about nothing, forces nothing and is content just letting things be as they are, the way nature does. The Tao can be demonstrated by a pond of muddy water. No amount of stirring can clear it. But left alone, all the mud and other impurities settle down to the bottom and the pond becomes clear by itself. Ardent followers are also enjoined to value the Three Treasures of love, moderation and humility.

More than this, Lao Tse asserts: "He who tells does not know and he who knows does not tell." This simply means that the deeper meaning of Tao cannot be taught by anyone to anybody. Instead, each student making his own journey through life must find out its meaning for himself.

Confucianism

Some fifty years later, another philosopher and teacher named Confucius (Kung Fu Tse) prepared a compilation of wise sayings urging men to a right mode of life and a respect for the teachings of the wise men of old. He provided a system of ethics or right conduct. Confucius taught not of God, but, rather, of goodness. He taught men to be honest, upright, faithful and obedient to those in authority, while laying stress on social service. He taught that: "What you wouldn’t want others to do to you, don’t do to them." The teachings of Confucius set forth in the Confucian Canon includes Five Classics, which are collections of ancient poems and other works of the wise men of old, with one of them supposed to have been authored by Confucius and his first disciple, Mencius.

A few centuries afterwards, Buddhism spread its influence in China and took hold. Subsequently, an integration or merger of these three schools of thought — Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism — came into being and is now widely accepted, while only a few espouse the Christian and Muslim faiths.

Buddhism

At about this same time in India, the people were disillusioned with their religion. The religious authorities were degenerate and self-seeking and thought only of their own personal gain. And so, the people were turning away from their old beliefs. Since some people felt that animals were better than humans, they turned again to worshipping animals as gods.

The Story of Gautama

Into this world was born a prince, Siddharta Gautama, son of a warrior king, a high Hindu raja. Because of a prophecy that the son would be a prophet of great renown, the king, who desired so much that his son succeed him and inherit his kingdom, determined to do all things possible in order that the prophecy should not come true.

He decreed that Gautama be prevented from knowing of the evils and sorrows beyond the palace confines. All his travels were to be supervised and he was to meet only his caste-equals. But Gautama would not be so restrained. Sensing that he was being so protected, he determined to obtain freedom from such restrictions.

One day, in defiance of his father’s orders, he slipped out of the palace grounds to learn what he could on his own. Outside, he saw an old, old man, trembling with age and illness, toothless, blind with cataract and senile. For the first time in his life, Gautama came to realize that old age comes to everyone, and with its coming, the body of man ceases to retain the activeness, strength and beauty that his own body then presently enjoyed.

Next, he saw an emaciated man, miserable and moaning while he picked yellow scabs from his disease-ridden body. Gautama was shocked and his mind began to question why these things happen.

But then further on, at the side of the road, he came upon a scene that would leave a very deep and lasting impression on him. Here was death staring him in the face, a naked corpse, discolored and odorous, covered by a dense cloud of flies opened to his gaze.

While he was meditating on all that he saw and was greatly troubled, he chanced upon a well-clad, serene monk, calm and tranquil, untroubled by the misery and suffering all around him. And thinking that old age, disease and death awaited all of mankind and that by being a religious, one could attain peace and contentment, he resolved that he would become as that monk. So, presently, he left the palace and he became a seeker after truth, searching for the answers to the mysteries of life.

For six long and hard years, he sought out all the leading teachers of his time, asking, learning all he could from each of them, until all the teachers could teach him no more. But still, he did not have the answers. Until, finally, he resolved that he would not stop meditating until he did find the answers. A few days later, he experienced an illumination, and he had his answers. And, at that moment, he became the Buddha, the "Enlightened One." Afterwards, he formulated the way of life that became known as Buddhism.

Influence of Hinduism

It must be remembered that Buddhism is based on the principles of Hinduism and espouses certain of its fundamental beliefs. Included among them are Transmigration or the return of the soul into other forms of life; Karma or the consequences of one’s actions and Nirvana, which is the state of being a pure spirit, pure, so far as lack of lust for physical things are concerned.

The Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path

Gautama, the Buddha, therefore enjoins man to follow the "Middle Way" of life between the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification through man’s recognition of the Four Noble Truths which are:

1. Human life holds the possibility of suffering.
   
   
2. Human suffering is caused by desire or craving for the things that are of the world.
   
   
3. When one ceases to crave for a thing, then one ceases to have suffering connected with that thing; suffering ceases with the complete cessation of cravings.
   
   
4. Man can free himself of these cravings by following the Noble Eightfold Path.

The Noble Eightfold Path is as follows:

1. Right viewpoint — We should be aware of our real self, the Spirit Self, thereby obtaining an understanding of spiritual realities untrammeled by the illusions in the world.
   
   
2. Right aspirations — We should direct our strivings toward our spiritual objectives.
   
   
3. Right speech — We should always speak with love and consideration for others as our guide.
   
   
4. Right behavior — We should return love for hate and good for evil.
   
   
5. Right mode of livelihood — We should engage in an occupation that is beneficial and never harmful.
   
   
6. Right efforts — We should act purposefully with due regard to our own individual capacity and personal preferences.
   
   
7. Right mindfulness — We should discipline our thoughts and emotions.
   
   
8. Right contemplation — We should listen intuitively to correctly determine our true needs.

In so following the Noble Eightfold Path, man shall be able to attain to the state of Nirvana, which is not a state of nothingness, but, rather, that Nirvana which is equivalent to the higher Christian heavens and the spiritual perfection that they signify.

Branches of Buddhism

One branch or form of Buddhism is Lamaism, which flourished in Tibet before the Communist takeover of that country. This form of Buddhism developed as a consequence of Tibetan customs and traditions and was very advanced in the metaphysical sciences as expounded by Lobsang Rampa.

Another branch of Buddhism is Zen Buddhism, which teaches that one must first experience before he can know the truth. According to this school, truth cannot be known by just listening to the spoken word, or by reading the printed page. While all are enjoined to read and study Scriptures and to listen attentively to the learned lectures of wise men, all these serve only to guide us. All such studies must be accompanied by actual related experiences before we may more fully understand. One picture is worth a thousand words, but one experience is worth a thousand pictures.

Christianity

In the little town of Bethlehem in Palestine, 2,000 years ago, there was born in a lowly manger, a male child, son to the carpenter Joseph and his wife, Mary, who belonged to a subject people, the Jews, under the rule of the Roman conquerors. This child was later to be called the Son of God, the King of kings. Coming into the world at a time when the world had turned itself away from God, through him, God gave to the world His love, His truth and His light.

The people had departed from the teachings of the old prophets. Driven by their lusts for the things of the flesh, they had forgotten God and thought only of their own selfish interests. The principles and teachings of Judaism were cancelled out by the corruptness of its high priests and the deafness of its followers. The need for God’s guidance was great. And God sent Jesus.

While Jesus is the Master of the World, he, like Gautama, the Buddha, before him, went into actual preparation for the first 30 years of his life, learning from others, and remembering what others did not know. For he comes from above. He is not of this world. He comes from Heaven.

When it was time for him to do his Father’s work, he taught and preached with great authority surpassing that of all his elders and even the prophets before him. His life and teachings are embodied in the New Testament Gospels. And all that he taught can be summarized into two great commandments — "Love God and love your neighbor as yourself." By his works, the world knows him. And all who are of the Truth listens to him.

The followers of the teachings of Jesus, the Christ, were later on called Christians. And, subsequently, the Christian Church was organized under the leadership of Peter and Paul and spread all over the world.

Islam

Archangel Gabriel Visits Muhammad

Despite the growth of Judaism and Christianity in some Arabian communities in the 600s, much of Arabia lay steeped in ignorance, superstition and idol-worship. The tribes being constantly at war with one another, any real peace and unity could only be achieved if everyone could come to agree on a common ideal, a faith perhaps especially formulated and acceptable to the Arab psyche, according to their then level of evolvement.

At this time, Gabriel, the Archangel, visited a Godly man named Muhammad, who is believed by many to be a descendant of Abraham and Ishmael, and told him that God had chosen him to preach and spread Islam, which means, submission to the will of Allah.

The Archangel being highly regarded by both Christians and Jews alike, Muhammad could not but be tolerant and accepting also of these earlier faiths, in fact recognizing his kinship with them. It is recounted that before tackling the last phase of his mission, he was taken up to heaven by the Archangel to meet with Jesus and the Old Testament prophets and God, Himself, to receive his final instructions.

The messages from God delivered by Archangel Gabriel to Muhammad formed the early foundational basis of what were later written down by Muhammad’s followers and subsequently incorporated into the Qur'an, the Holy Scriptures of Islam.

The Spread of the Faith

The first convert of this new faith was Muhammad’s wife, Khadija, and with her encouragement, Muhammad began to win other followers. He preached against idols in favor of the One God. And this preaching brought him many enemies from among those who worshipped such idols, especially those whose livelihood depended on the businesses related to their devotional worship.

Eventually, Muhammad and his followers were so persecuted that fearing for their life, they were forced to flee to Medina. However, this flight, called "Hegira," became the turning point of his career. After having pacified all the warring tribes there, he was acclaimed the new ruler and military commander of the city. And, encouraged by this success, he moved on Mecca and conquered it, as well. He then proceeded to destroy the idols and built the ancient Kaaba shrine, the Sanctuary of Allah.

In victory, Muhammad was generous and merciful, offering friendship to all including Christians and Jews, regarding them as his brothers. However, just as the Jews rejected Christ, the Christians and the Jews in general rejected Muhammad as God's latest messenger and prophet. Muhammad realizing the futility of winning them to Islam concentrated his efforts rather more on his own people and their needs. And from then on, tribe after tribe voluntarily submitted to his leadership, until at Muhammad’s death, all of Arabia stood united under Islam.

The Five Pillars

The doctrine of Islam is based on the Qur'an and the Sunna or traditions. The Sunna recounts the sayings and deeds of Muhammad. The Five Duties of a believer or the Five Pillars of Islam are:

1. Recital of the Creed. In its shortest form, the creed is: "I testify that there is no God but Allah, and that Muhammad is His prophet." Acceptance of the creed implies belief in God, the angels, the inspired books, the prophets, the Day of Judgment, and God’s predestination of good and evil. The latter is the basis of the fatalistic attitude of the Muslim. Even in the face of life’s many hardships and tragedies, he willingly submits to the wisdom of God, and in faith, he declares: "It is the will of Allah."
   
   
2. Prayer. The Muslim worships five times a day facing Mecca, the birthplace of Muhammad. Phrases of his prayers and the postures of his body are all prescribed. Worship is preceded by ceremonial bathing. And on Friday, the Muslim holy day, prayers and a short sermon are held in the mosque under the leadership of the Imam.
   
   
3. Fasting. All throughout the month of Ramadhan when the Qur'an was revealed, the faithful fast. They do not eat or drink between dawn and sunset.
   
   
4. Almsgiving. All believers are expected to give alms to assist needy fellow-Muslims.
   
   
5. The Pilgrimage to Mecca. All Muslims who are physically and financially able are expected to make a pilgrimage to the Holy City at least once in their lifetime.

Basic Beliefs

A believer is bound in the principle of mutual help and entrusted with the furtherance of good and the repression of evil. Emphasis is placed on equality and brotherhood. Muslims believe that man stands alone in direct relationship with his God, surrendering himself to His mercy. Hence, there are no organized churches, no priests and no sacraments.

Impelled by circumstances as a result of the wars, the Arabs were encouraged to take in the widows of comrades killed in battle as their wives to help them and provide for their needs. Polygamy then came to be widely practiced and was adopted into the faith. However, Muhammad limited the number of wives to four or less, depending on the capacity of the men to provide for their needs. Women were granted rights to possess or inherit property and could even divorce their husbands under certain conditions. Slavery was condemned. Eating pork was forbidden and drinking wine, prohibited.

The concept of Jihad against infidels was from the very beginning limited to the self-preservation of the faith and never was intended to include aggression against non-combatants, women and children. As soon as the threatened annihilation of Islam was neutralized and the cause of justice was served, Muhammad forgave his enemies and worked to win the peace. Then he clarified the concept. Jihad in the greater spiritual sense is the struggle against the Muslim's evil or worldly desires and the overcoming of his human limitations. The terrorists' view of Jihad is contrary to the true teachings of Islam.

Christians, Jews and Muslims are true brothers inspite of the ongoing religious conflicts.

Major Sects

There are two major sects of Islam; The Sunnites, who believe in the Sunna and who form the majority; and the Shiites, who reject the Sunna simply because certain other caliphs participated in the formation of the Sunna. These latter are followers of Ali, Muhammad’s blood relative, who hold that Ali, alone, is the rightful successor to Muhammad.

Spiritualism and Spiritism

Strange Occurrences

From the highly suspicious Spiritualist phenomena of table rapping, trumpet voices, materializations, apparitions, all the shaking and quaking every which way and other occurrences delving in the supernatural: and inspite of all the fake mediums, the fake healers and the ghost-busting activities of non-believers; there has emerged a new philosophy and teaching.

Spirit communications or divine revelations are as old as man. It is simply that man in those early days did not have the capacity to understand the principles governing their operation.

The Philosophy behind the Phenomena

With the resurgence of communications with the spirits of the departed at about the 1850s, a wealth of information concerning the life that waits beyond the Earth have begun to filter in to the world. A Frenchman named Allan Kardec through a series of sessions or seances with the aid of mediums who were able to receive these communications from higher beings, prepared a compilation of these communications and incorporated the same into a book entitled ‘The Spirits’ Book.’

Published in 1850, this book became the basis of Modern Spiritualism/Spiritism. It was entitled as such because the contents of the book were provided by a special team of highly enlightened Spirit teachers composed of John, the Evangelist, St. Augustine, et. al. Their mission, impossible, was to introduce new and advanced concepts of spiritual realities to the people of the world, thereby preparing them for the advent of the Golden Age. However, the information contained in ‘The Spirit’s Book’ is only the beginning. And, subsequently, supplementary information continue to be provided by means of communications through various mediums or Spiritualist and Spiritist study centers in many parts of the world.

Fundamental Beliefs

Spiritualism is basically a belief in the spiritual nature of man. Emphasis is given to love, righteousness and service to fellowmen. Early beliefs include the existence of God: existence and survival of the spirit; the reality of the Spirit World; brotherhood of all creation; and mediumship as a means of communication with the Spirit World.

Foretold by Jesus Christ

In the Philippines, Spiritism is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. In the book of John 16:12.13, Jesus said, "Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you cannot understand it now. Albeit, when the Spirits of Truth and Holiness come, they will guide you into all truth." In addition to what most Spiritualists early into the movement believe as enumerated above, the Spirits of Truth include and emphasize Reincarnation and the Law of Karma, infinite progression of the spirit entity; personal responsibility and salvation through individual effort as central to their basic teachings, effectively clarifying and upgrading the present interpretations of the Christian Churches regarding the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Conclusions

The differences in the teachings of the various religions are due largely to the inevitable spread and adoption over time of degraded and corrupted versions of the teachings in place of the original. Subsequent followers and students not being of the same high order as their Prophets, their understanding was less than perfect. Consequently, as they passed on to the succeeding students their flawed interpretations, the original and true divine teachings were effectively replaced or obscured. Further, aggravated by differences in language and culture caused by a lack of communication between the various peoples of the world, sad but true, misinformation and confusion is now pervasive and widespread.

However, with increased communication and racial integration, and as everyone of us continues to push forward in our development, all these differences will eventually be resolved and the real teachings will reemerge and come together, united in the One Truth.

Regardless however, the different religions represent the many faces of God and His divine teachings. To different people, God reveals Himself in different ways.To the Hindus, God lays stress on the knowledge of self in its various aspects. To the Shintoists and the Taoists, He teaches selflessness and simplicity. To the followers of Confucius, He stresses goodness and social service. To the Buddhists, He espouses a "Middle Way" of life. In addition, the realities of the spiritual worlds beyond Earth have largely been confirmed through the mystic experiences of the more advanced adepts belonging to both the Hindu and Buddhist faiths.

To the Jews, He is Yahweh, the One God with human attributes. And over the centuries, in line with the spiritual development of man, He became transformed, through the teachings of Jesus Christ, from the jealous and vengeful God of the Old Testament prophets, to the God of love and justice, truth and beauty of the present generation.

To the Muslims, He teaches the principles of mutual help, the furtherance of good and the repression of evil. Further, Allah enjoins that in their trials and hardships in life, the Muslims should predispose themselves to submit to His divine will. It is inferred here, of course, that Allah is all-powerful and just: that He loves us all; and like a good father to his children, He sends us only the very best. Therefore, we really should welcome or, at least, be resigned even to hardships and sorrows because although we may not understand now, they have a divine purpose under heaven, a counterpart spiritual benefit all according to His divine will.

And to the Christians and Spiritualists, God teaches His divine ways of love, righteousness and service. Also, to the Spiritualists and Spiritists, He clarifies and confirms the old eternal truths and spiritual realities, which until now have not been readily available to the greater masses of people.

In all of these religions, emphasis is on love, righteous living and the development of character. This is the essence of all religious teachings. This is what is important. And with righteousness, truth unfolds.

But in the pursuit of truth, no one and no religion has a monopoly, because there is truth in all. And in order to attain to the whole, we must draw from each of the parts. For all men are God’s children. We are, all of us, part and parcel of the One God. And nothing and no one exists outside God. We are one.

Comparison Study of Religions

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Particulars	Christianity	Buddhism	Islam	Hinduism	Judaism
Ethnic / Main Origins	Palestine to the West Broke away from Judaism	India to the East Broke away from Hinduism	Arabians Largely influenced by Judaism and Christianity	Indians Indian beliefs	Jews (Hebrews) Initiated by Abraham who was himself a Brahmin
Definition	Followers of Christ’s teachings	Religion of those seeking to be reawakened spiritually (merged with Taoism and Confucianism in China and with Shintoism in Japan)	Submission to the will of Allah	Complicated combination of religious beliefs and social customs prevalent in Indian society	Religious beliefs of the Jewish people
Character Building and Righteous Living	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Existence of God	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes – Many minor gods	Yes
Existence of the Spirit / Soul	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No, not particularly
Spirit World – Heaven / Hell	Yes	Yes – Nirvana	Yes	Yes – Nirvana	No
Reincarnation	No – But must be born again	Yes	No	Yes	No
Karma	Yes – We reap what we sow No – Christ paid for all our sins	Yes	Yes	Yes	No, no compensation and no retribution
Progression	Yes – You must be perfect	Yes	No	Yes	No
Salvation/ Freedom	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Main Proponents / Exponents	Jesus, Angels, Apostles, Saints, Prophets	Buddha(s), Masters, Adepts	Mohammed	Avatars, Gurus, Masters	Abraham, Moses and the Prophets
Source Documents / Teachings	Bible, Catechism for Catholics	Buddhist Scriptures, 4 Noble Truths, Noble Eightfold Path	Koran, Sunna	Vedas (2500 BC)	Old Testament
Basic Teachings / Beliefs	Love God and love your neighbor as yourself, Golden Rule	A "Middle Way" through one’s recognition of the 4 Noble Truths and his following the Noble Eightfold Path, Reverse Golden Rule	Mutual help, furtherance of good and the suppression of evil, Emphasis on equality and brotherhood, The Five Pillars	Salvation through 1) devotional service, 2) accumulation of knowledge or 3) accumulation of good karma, Emphasis on self-realization	Fatherhood of God, Oneness of all creation, All men equal brothers, Virtuous living, Ten Commandments, Messianic era on Earth
Inception Dates	30 – 100	600 BC	570 – 632	2500 BC	2000 BC
% of Followers to World Population	33 – 40	20 – 34	14 – 23	12 – 16	.5

Lesson 3 -- Exercises

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Write whether you AGREE or you DISAGREE with the following statements and then, briefly, in a few sentences, explain why or why not (5 points per item)

1. There is only one true religion, mine.
   
   
2. An eye for an eye.
   
   
3. The Gurus and Spiritual Masters who are in the world are only students, themselves.
   
   
4. In matters of faith, the Pope is infallible.
   
   
5. Gautama attained enlightenment just by meditating.
   
   
6. All men go to heaven when they die.
   
   
7. If we only knew how to pray, all our requests would surely be granted.
   
   
8. Simply choose the best alternative or the least evil.
   
   
9. The physical yoga exercises increase spirituality.
   
   
10. A man not tempted is not proved.
    
    
11. No soul shall bear the burden of another.
    
    
12. A priest is, of course, spiritually superior to other men.
    
    
13. The different religions represent the different aspects of the One Truth.
    
    
14. Each person’s understanding of the divine truths can only correspond to his own level in the order of evolution.
    
    
15. Monogamy is, of course, the best form of marriage for everybody.
    
    
16. Patriotism is a positive spiritual trait.
    
    
17. Sex is bad for the soul.
    
    
18. Old Testament teachings are valid even today.
    
    
19. All that we will ever need to know are already written in the Holy Scriptures.
    
    
20. We should not add or detract from what is written in the Bible.

Lesson 3 -- Solutions

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5 points per item

1. There is only one true religion, mine.
   
   D. Every religion is specially suited to its followers, helping them to pass on to the next stage of their development. Each has its own differences in approach and emphasis but all of them have certain qualities and teachings that every student can benefit from.
   
   
2. An eye for an eye.
   
   D. This Old Testament teaching during the days of our youth and ignorance has already been superseded by the teachings of Jesus Christ. He said, "Don’t judge, Return love for hate, and Love your enemies."
   
   
3. The Gurus and Spiritual Masters who are in the world are only students, themselves.
   
   A. They may be advanced and very much ahead of us but they, too, have their own lessons to learn. No one is perfect here on earth.
   
   
4. In matters of faith, the Pope is infallible.
   
   D. No one on earth is infallible even if he is divinely inspired. Everyone here is subject to error.
   
   
5. Gautama attained enlightenment just by meditating.
   
   D. Enlightenment comes as a consequence of a high level of spiritual attainment. Through meditation, we are able to transcend the mind and access or recall that which we have already learned in our past lives. However, our degree of enlightenment can only correspond to the level in the order of evolution to which we have arrived.
   
   
6. All men go to heaven when they die.
   
   D. Only those who have lived according to the divine will of God can merit heaven. However, there are "many mansions" or graded levels of heaven. We go to the plane we deserve depending on our own thoughts and deeds.
   
   
7. If we only knew how to pray, all our requests would surely be granted.
   
   D. The granting of our prayer requests depends on spiritual considerations, whether it will be helpful or harmful to our spiritual development. That considered, everything useful and helpful comes to us whether we pray for them or not.
   
   
8. Simply choose the best alternative or the least evil.
   
   A. On earth, many of our choices and alternatives are far from ideal. It is enough that we choose the best from the lot or the least harmful.
   
   
9. The physical yoga exercises increase spirituality.
   
   D. Physical yoga pertains only to the physical body. Spirituality relates to character, righteousness, loving and serving our brothers.
   
   
10. A man not tempted is not proved.
    
    A. This is an Islamic teaching which tends to explain why we undergo trials on earth. Here, we are examined to prove our worthiness. In addition, the proof of learning is in the doing. He who doesn’t do proves that he doesn’t really know.
    
    
11. No soul shall bear the burden of another.
    
    A. This is another teaching of Islam which simply restates the principle of personal responsibility.
    
    
12. A priest is, of course, spiritually superior to other men.
    
    D. There is the presumption that the guide is ahead of those he is guiding. However, this is not necessarily true in every case. Even priests and even prophets are undergoing training and development in their line of work. And false guides are with us to teach us how to discern and decide wisely concerning the things of life.
    
    
13. The different religions represent the different aspects of the One Truth.
    
    A. The Truth is so all-encompassing. To better comprehend it, it is broken down into smaller, easy to learn parts. But all the religions are parts of the whole Truth.
    
    
14. Each person’s understanding of the divine truths can only correspond to his own level in the order of evolution.
    
    A. No one can really understand unless he has personally experienced the fact and the teachings. Our capacity to understand then depends on how much we have learned from our accumulated experiences, including those that we have learned from all our past incarnations.
    
    
15. Monogamy is, of course, the best form of marriage for everybody.
    
    D. What is good for one person is not necessarily good for another. To the Muslims, having just one wife is less than desirable. God gave everyone a free will and the right to decide for oneself. Provided that all of the principal parties are in agreement, then nothing is wrong. All such circumstances and relationships are merely lessons and experiences provided us so that we may learn from them.
    
    
16. Patriotism is a positive spiritual trait.
    
    D. Patriotism is a grade higher than self-interest but falls short of true spiritualism. True spirituality puts the interests of the whole above that of self and realizes its oneness with the Divine. All men, regardless of their nationality, are brothers.
    
    
17. Sex is bad for the soul.
    
    D. Sex is natural, normal and necessary for spirits who are at a certain stage of development. Sex must be fully learned, experienced and enjoyed before one can advance to higher levels of development. The rule is for as long as we have a need, that need must be satisfied.
    
    
18. Old Testament teachings are valid even today.
    
    D. Many of the Old Testament teachings are no longer applicable to us. In fact, many have already been amended. The blind obedience of Abraham, an eye for an eye, the vengeful and jealous God of Moses and the blood of the lamb (Christ) as an acceptable sacrifice — All these were actually upgraded and superseded by the teachings of Jesus.
    
    
19. All that we will ever need to know are already written in the Holy Scriptures.
    
    D. Jesus himself said, "There is so much more I want to tell you..." There are many new teachings which are only now being made available but they can be received only by those who are ready for them.
    
    
20. We should not add or detract from what is written in the Bible.
    
    D. We really have no recourse but to do so. Depending on what we have already experienced, we add to or detract from the teachings in the Bible. Our own personal experiences are the only true bases from which we may be able to discern which is true or false and true from that which is only half-true.

Teachings of the Holy Spirit 1

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The Age of Science

The Limits of Science

Spiritualism — Perceivings of a Different World

Spiritism - Guidance by the Spirits of Truth

Biblical Bases

Basic Teachings

The existence of God

The existence of the Spirit

The reality of the Spirit World

Brotherhood and oneness of all creation

Reincarnation

The Law of Karma

Infinite progression of the Spirit entity

Personal responsibility and salvation through individual effort

Mediumship as a means of communication with the Spirit World

Love and service as the Way

The Path to Enlightenment

The Age of Science

Today, science is regarded almost as a god. Everything now must be in conformity with the discovered laws of science. This is understandable because of the great advances in scientific technology during these last 200 years. These days, we take many things for granted. But many things which are common place today and which are known to everyone today were not common nor were they known just two centuries ago.

Then, the electric light was not yet in existence, nor was electricity as we know it easily available. Today, this is unthinkable. There were no such things as gas-fueled motor vehicles. So sorry, but you just have to go on foot. Radio and TV were unheard of. Although, of course, rumor mongering or just plain old gossiping was already the favorite pastime.

There were no airplanes, submarines and air pollution. The telephone and the telegraph were not yet in use. If at all, they sent out pigeons. And if anyone living during those days of ignorance even hinted at such preposterous concepts and novelties, he would very definitely have been regarded as a fool and a dreamer. But now we know better. We now know that the fools — Galileo, Magellan, Edison and the Wright brothers — were right all along, and that all the rest were the ones who were really foolish.

Still, much the same situation prevails today. Because of these most recent and, admittedly, great scientific findings and influences, the materialists, also called scientists, now tend to think that the material and physical laws are all there is to know, and they are inclined to dismiss the spiritual aspects of life as unimportant and without basis in fact.

The Limits of Science

However, science is, itself, very limited and thoroughly deficient. The whole of the physical sciences constitutes only a small portion of the whole of creation. Material science accepts only what the five physical senses can perceive and those that can be perceived by its puny scientific instruments. Its studies, therefore, are confined and limited to the purely physical. However, there is far more to life than what we can see and touch. But since material science rejects these non-physical realities, therefore, its findings leave much to be desired.

We should never deny the existence and the reality of something simply because we cannot as yet understand it. Instead, we should always be open to all possible explanations. We should never close our eyes to the more spiritual aspects of life, because they are the things that, precisely, lie at the root of everything that is. And, if we are to move forward in our development, they are what we must strive to become more aware of.

Spiritualism — Perceivings of a Different World

At about 1850, many events took place that jolted many materialistic minds from their self-imposed ignorance. Truly, as Christ told us long ago, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe." At that time, in most of Europe and America, there came an awakening of sorts and people begun to question their limited and confused, although, supposedly scientific conception of life and death and their exclusive regard for the material side of life to the exclusion of the spiritual.

The sensation of the day was the phenomena of Spiritualism. Where before, a lot of people thought that life ends at death, now, all of a sudden, some "foolish" mediums and quacks were claiming that they were in communication with the spirits of the departed — Uneducated simpletons, no doubt.

There were a lot of shaking and quaking going on even when there was no earthquake. Tables were rapping their Morse code-like messages. One for yes and two for no. Trumpets were flying all over every place and heralding messages from beyond the grave. Glasses and other UFOs were jumping all over ouija boards at the touch of your fingertips. People, images and things were appearing and disappearing. It was, at the very least, very entertaining after you get over your initial fright. But at the time, very few were able to appreciate the deeper implications. And of course, a lot of this nonsense were subsequently proven to be false. However, despite all the fakery and the sustained ghostbusting activities of non-believers, the phenomena, as well as their advocates, have persisted and, in fact, the movement has grown.

Much later, in the Philippines, as in Brazil, the phenomena of faith healing and psychic surgery became famous or notorious, depending. And it is mostly for this reason that many have become interested in these studies. However, all these phenomena are only the tip of the iceberg, because there is so very much more that is simply waiting for you to discover.

Spiritism - Guidance by the Spirits of Truth

A short time after Modern Spiritualism became widespread, Spiritism came to prominence. The more intelligent among the people had gotten over the initial shock or curiosity brought about by the increasing incidence of Spiritualist phenomena and were more inclined to their study with a view to their proper harnessing. In answer to this need, a special team of highly evolved Spirit teachers composed of John the Evangelist and others, who were apparently still very much alive, undertook the work of introducing new and advanced spiritual concepts, which were to serve as the underlying bases for the phenomena.

Because "Only the pure in heart will be able to see God," they chose a morally upright Frenchman with strong scientific leanings to help them in this work. Through various mediums, the Spirit teachers proceeded to transmit to this man their messages and teachings. Subsequently, these messages were compiled and the principles contained therein were incorporated into a book aptly titled ‘The Spirits’ Book.’

In order to further demonstrate the distinct character of these New Teachings, the Frenchman was instructed to write under the penname of Allan Kardec. ‘The Spirits’ Book’ later became the basic reference and guidebook of all Spiritists or simply put, those persons, like us, who choose to pursue further spiritual studies under the guidance of these higher Spirit entities. However, ‘The Spirits’ Book’ is just the beginning, only the ABC as it were, and, subsequently, other and more advanced teachings continue to be provided through various mediums and Spiritualist or Spiritist study centers in many parts of the world.

Biblical Bases

Since ages past, many predictions have foretold of a coming Age of Enlightenment. Christ, himself, referred to this Age when he told us, "Today, I speak to you in parable, but the time is coming when I will be speaking to you plainly." And again he said 2,000 years ago, "Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you cannot understand it now. Albeit, when the Spirits of Truth and Holiness come, they will guide you to all the Truth."

True to his word, the Spirits of Truth are here with us, today. Today, the mysteries of the Universe are slowly being unfolded in our midst. Now all things are being made plain. For this is the beginning of a New Era in the life of our planet. And, today, the answer to every question is being made available.

The Spirits of Truth or what the Christians have come to know as the Holy Spirit are literally what their name suggests. They are spirit beings who are already holy. They are just like you and me, but, unlike us, they are already very highly evolved and enlightened beings. They have gone far ahead of any man still here on the earth plane of existence. They had lived just like any human in times past. They had experienced all that we have yet to experience. They have completed their own earthly education. Thus, they are the best qualified to guide us towards all that we seek to learn.

It is only a matter of increasing one’s sensitivity in order to perceive vibrations beyond the range of normal human perception. And as we become more open to such higher influences, the more we can become aware of these greater realities.

Spiritism is premised on the reality of life after death. To those who can believe in the separate existence of the spirit entity apart from the physical body, it should not be too difficult to consider that communication with such a spirit-consciousness must be possible. But the Spiritists have gone further than mere theorizing. On the basis of their own personal experiences, they are able to attest categorically and very definitely that such a possibility is a reality and that such an experience, being equally available to everyone, is not as rare as many would suppose.

These are the bases of Spiritism in the Philippines. While the object of Spiritualism and Channeling in the West, which form Phase 1, so to speak, of the New Age Movement, is merely to provide proofs of survival, it is given to Spiritism, the next forward step, to provide for the introduction and the dissemination of the explanations and New Teachings of the New Age.

Basic Teachings

Through the guidance of these Spirits of Truth, the old truths are made plain and the New Teachings are advanced for our consideration. The most important principles are the following:

1. The existence of God
   
   God may be defined as Infinite Intelligence. Imperfect as we are and still greatly influenced by matter, we are unable to completely understand the true exact nature of God. Finite minds cannot comprehend the infinite. In addition, our vocabulary is so poor that we are unable to more satisfactorily define God. While we may attribute to God certain very desirable and positive characteristics, we should never feel that God is confined to such attributes. To do so would be to limit God, Who is unlimited. However, we will be able to know and comprehend God more fully just as soon as we become totally freed from Earthly influences and approach the righteousness that is God according to His ethical teachings.
   
   
2. The existence of the Spirit
   
   God created us spirit beings in His image. However, at our creation, we were created perfect seeds, innocent and ignorant, but endowed with every potentiality to grow and develop to full maturity or perfection through our own exertions.
   
   
3. The reality of the Spirit World
   
   There are other dimensions of being, other worlds apart from the physical worlds and the earth in which we live at the moment. There are "many mansions" in the Kingdom of God. We leave these more spiritual worlds temporarily when we are born to earth, and we return to them at physical death. And there, we will live for all eternity as soon as we prove ourselves worthy.
   
   
4. Oneness and brotherhood of all creation
   
   At this earthly stage of our development, most humans are just beginning to curb their selfishness and selfish interests in favor of the common good. We are only now considering our planet as a single spaceship or boat in the vast sea of space. We are only now learning not to rock the boat lest we sink the ship and drown all of us, together. But, eventually, gradually, we will come to learn that all are one.
   
   
5. Reincarnation
   
   In order to further develop spiritually, we spirit beings repeatedly come to earth and other physical worlds by motivating physical bodies which will enable us to undergo all the necessary experiences that afford learning until such time that we are able to arrive at a certain prescribed standard of spiritual perfection.
   
   
6. The Law of Karma
   
   This is the Law of Harmony that provides for the restoration of balance to all things. This is also the law of cause and effect and sowing and reaping. Relative to ethical matters, the law was not intended to punish offenders as much as to teach us right from wrong and good and evil.
   
   
7. Infinite progression of the Spirit entity
   
   No one will be committed to suffer forever in hell. All who are not yet fully developed or perfected will continue to be given every opportunity to improve himself in the Lower Worlds. This process continues until we are able to attain to the perfection that God intended. We are destined to come live with Him in His Kingdom after we have completed our earthly studies.
   
   
8. Personal responsibility and salvation through individual effort
   
   Having been given free will, we alone have the right to decide regarding personal matters. "We are the captain of our soul, the master of our fate." We only need to learn the divine laws and their consequences and abide by them in order to ensure for ourselves the kind of life we desire. It follows that God won’t and Jesus cannot save us because this is in direct contravention of His divine will. Instead, Jesus having shown us the Way, we now need to save ourselves through our own personal efforts.
   
   
9. Mediumship as a means of communication with the Spirit World
   
   By developing our higher faculties, we are able to break through the barriers between this world and the Higher Worlds thereby obtaining undeniable proofs and further divine instruction.
   
   
10. Love and service as the Way
    
    Emphasis is given to righteousness, which is love in action, and active service to our fellowmen as the Way to obtain release from the necessity of further incarnations and the attainment of eternal life in the Spirit World, the World of Reality.

From the foregoing, there can be no other conclusion but that life after death is certain. In fact, this world is just an illusion. It is fantasy and make believe. It is transient and impermanent. But the invisible world is the real world. And when we die and leave our bodies, we will enter into the Reality and our life on earth will to us become as a mere dream. Earth life is but a dream.

The Path to Enlightenment

To many people, it is becoming more and more evident that there is so very much more that we need to learn. And many people are now beginning to realize that these truths can now be found and understanding can be had. We should no longer be content with only the little that we now know. Instead, we should strive and seek for greater understanding in all things. God does not desire that we remain in ignorance. Because He loves us, He wants us to learn more of Him and more about ourselves, as well. And now, today, is the time to do this with the help of His Spirits of Truth.

In any field of knowledge, we learn only as we study. A student desiring to become a medical doctor must have qualified himself first before he may even be allowed to enter medical school. In the Philippines, he must have gone through six or seven years of grade schooling, four years of intermediate (high) school and he must have graduated from a 4-year preparatory collegiate course. After having been accepted to medical school, he continues to study at least four more years, undergoes a 2-year internship training program and finally, he must pass the Medical Board Examinations. Twenty years of preparatory study all in all. All these requirements must be complied with before he may be allowed to practice medicine. Then, before he can become really proficient, he must have to practice for quite a number of years more. In short, the really good doctor didn’t acquire his skills in a day nor was he able to gain his knowledge and expertise so easily.

But the whole field of medical science is, actually, a very limited field of knowledge compared to the "all truth" that the Spirits of Truth teach. And yet some people expect to learn everything in just a few weeks or months of study. But we must be realistic, because this simply cannot be. Learning, if it is to be effective and lasting, can come only gradually.

Many of you will be demanding for all sorts of proofs. And you should — because if you do not, then we would consider you to be foolish and gullible. Know now that we, too, questioned all these propositions and we are enjoined even now to continue to do the same with all new ideas and concepts. We are to accept only those teachings that are reasonable and can be proven in the light of our own personal experiences, and to reject all that are not.

Nevertheless, all that anyone really needs can be made available to him, provided he is willing to work persistently and hard until those needs are met. However, for so long as anyone insists, much like the materialist scientist, in confining his investigations only to physical considerations, he will never be able to find the proofs he seeks.

Besides, there is a prerequisite to the receipt of this knowledge. Christ exhorted us, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all things will simply be added on to you." And again he also told us, "If you adhere to my teachings, you will be my disciples, indeed, and you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free."

Lesson 4 -- Exercises

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Write whether you AGREE or you DISAGREE with the following statements and then, briefly, in a few sentences, explain why or why not (5 points per item)

1. No one is without lessons to learn.
   
   
2. Only the anointed should teach concerning God.
   
   
3. Only serious students are personally attended to by the elevated spirits.
   
   
4. The really elevated spirits do not impose their will on others.
   
   
5. The invisible world is the real world.
   
   
6. Self-realization self-corrects automatically.
   
   
7. We can ascertain the identity of a communicating spirit basing from the clairvoyant images mediums perceive.
   
   
8. We should communicate only with elevated spirits.
   
   
9. If we so choose, we can have angels as our guides.
   
   
10. Trance mediumship is the greatest source of divine knowledge.
    
    
11. The world can be considered hell.
    
    
12. Spirit instructions should be followed without question.
    
    
13. Spiritualism is the best path for everyone in the world.
    
    
14. Only the most highly developed mediums are utilized by Spirit guides.
    
    
15. My Spirit guide is not of my own choosing.
    
    
16. If I just follow the counsel of my Guide always, I’ll make out fine.
    
    
17. Spiritists are highly spiritual people.
    
    
18. The highest level of instruction is that given to the Spiritualists and Spiritists.
    
    
19. The messages of elevated spirits are always communicated in a language that is noble and refined.
    
    
20. We are at the mercy of evil spirits.

Lesson 4 -- Solutions

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5 points per item

1. No one is without lessons to learn.
   
   A. No one is perfect but God. It follows that we all have something more to learn.
   
   
2. Only the anointed should teach concerning God.
   
   D. We learn from both the positive and the negative. Without the negative side, we cannot have a proper perspective of the whole. Therefore, God also allows the mediocre, the incompetent and even those who are predisposed to evil to teach us the other side of what is good and proper so that by comparison, we can learn to judge more wisely. It is for this reason that, in the study of the Truth, everyone is enjoined to give his share.
   
   
3. Only serious students are personally attended to by the elevated spirits.
   
   A. It would be a waste of time and effort for elevated spirits to attend to matters that can already be handled by others below them. The President doesn’t sweep floors, that is the janitor’s job. However, when the student is ready, the Master or the elevated spirits are always ready to show the way.
   
   
4. The really elevated spirits do not impose their will on others.
   
   A. As a rule, they do not. They respect the right of others to decide for themselves. However, for the good of those who are too ignorant to know what is best for them, on very rare occasions where necessary, they do exert their very strong influence.
   
   
5. The invisible world is the real world.
   
   A. The physical worlds are only as classrooms where certain conditions and circumstances are simulated to afford learning. They are said to be worlds full of illusions. The World of Spirit, the world that will last forever, the real world, waits beyond.
   
   
6. Self-realization self-corrects automatically.
   
   A. Realization is half the battle. Once realized, then reforms and betterment automatically follow.
   
   
7. We can ascertain the identity of a communicating spirit basing from the clairvoyant images mediums perceive.
   
   D. Even devils can project an angelic image of themselves and they actually are able to fool many. Instead, we should rather evaluate the quality of their thoughts and intentions, whether directed toward good or evil, and the overall propriety of their actions. "By their fruits, we shall know them."
   
   
8. We should communicate only with elevated spirits.
   
   D. Everyone knows something he alone can share in his own particular way. Each one is a repository of some truth without which we cannot have access to the whole Truth. Therefore, it profits us to communicate with all classes of spirits.
   
   
9. If we so choose, we can have angels as our guides.
   
   D. We may make such a request, however, the decision is not up to us. The angels or the highly developed spirits who have already completed their earthly education know exactly what is best for us, to bring us forward. Everything comes according to what we spirits need and according to what we deserve.
   
   
10. Trance mediumship is the greatest source of divine knowledge.
    
    D. All forms of communication are equally of value, depending on the circumstances. Like tools in a carpenter’s box, each type of communication has its advantages and disadvantages.
    
    
11. The world can be considered hell.
    
    A. Because we are certain to experience pain and suffering here on earth, according to some more knowledgeable accounts, it is as if we are in hell. Life gets to be much, much better after we get over the lessons of this world.
    
    
12. Spirit instructions should be followed without question.
    
    D. Spirit guides are only supposed to offer suggestions. All the decisions must be ours to make, in the exercise of our free will. How else can we attain to perfection?
    
    
13. Spiritualism is the best path for everyone in the world.
    
    D. Spiritualism offers certain advantages but other schools likewise offer their own unique benefits. The student must choose his own path based on his own particular needs and preferences.
    
    
14. Only the most highly developed mediums are utilized by Spirit guides.
    
    D. The Spirit guides make the best use of whatever resources are available to them. Moreover, depending on the lesson, different classes of mediums having different specializations and degrees of competence are utilized.
    
    
15. My Spirit guide is not of my own choosing.
    
    D. Before we were even born, we chose who our guides would be. It is very similar to enrolling in a certain subject and choosing our particular teacher and guardian.
    
    
16. If I just follow the counsel of my Guide always, I’ll make out fine.
    
    D. We should never be blind followers. It is incumbent upon us to analyze and test every counsel no matter from whom it comes before deciding on whether to follow it or not. In everything we do, we cannot escape our personal responsibility.
    
    
17. Spiritists are highly spiritual people.
    
    D. Spiritists are students like anyone else. They are striving to become highly spiritual and holy but they have quite a ways to go still.
    
    
18. The highest level of instruction is that given to the Spiritualists and Spiritists.
    
    D. What are available to Spiritualists and Spiritists are also available to others. Everything depends on what a student is ready for and that is always given.
    
    
19. The messages of elevated spirits are always communicated in a language that is noble and refined.
    
    D. While the messages coming from the elevated spirits are really noble and refined, their relaying may be hampered by the limitations of the medium in terms of his attitude, comprehension and communication skills.
    
    
20. We are at the mercy of evil spirits.
    
    D. No one can impose his will on us if we will not allow it. If we are too weak to resist, then our Spirit guides will take charge and safeguard us from harm. God just won’t allow anything really bad to happen to us. However, on rare occasions whenever necessary, our Spirit guides actually enlist the help of lower spirits to tempt and mislead us in order to teach us certain very valuable lessons.

Teachings of the Holy Spirit 2

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Basis of Modern Spiritism

Biblical Basis and the Spirits of Truth

Authority of the Spirits of Truth

Qualifications of Students

Impediments to Learning

Limitations of the Student

Limitations of Mediums

Limitations of the Communicating Spirit

Methods of Guidance

Other Guidelines and Rules Relevant to Our Studies

Our Choice

Basis of Modern Spiritism

In ancient times, there have always been prophets and mediums in communication with the Divine. The Hebrews had Abraham, Moses and the Prophets. The Hindus and Buddhists had their adepts. The Christians dreamed dreams and spoke in tongues. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mohammed and his revelations became the underlying basis of Islam. There were the Oracle of Delphi and the State Oracle of Tibet. However, in the past, people did not really know what they were doing and even if they did know, they would not tell others, with good reason; people then did not have the capacity to comprehend. Still, the very same principles that applied then apply even now. And that body of divine knowledge that has come down to the world during these modern times since the 1850s is what we now term as Spiritism.

We are at the threshold of a coming new age. And every new age brings new knowledge, knowledge that will bring man a few more steps closer to his God. Today, new explanations, new insights, new approaches, new teachings are being made available. Man now is considered sufficiently evolved such that, today, even the mysteries kept hidden since the foundation of the world are slowly being unfolded and made plain.

Biblical Basis and the Spirits of Truth

When Jesus Christ was yet in the world, he promised he would send the Holy Spirits to guide us and bring all things to our remembrance. Today, this promise is being fulfilled.

The Holy Spirits are our highly evolved brothers-in-spirit of all faiths. They are the residents of God’s heaven. They have attained to union with God. They know the whole Truth. Having attained to full knowledge and experience by virtue of their own past incarnations, they are the most qualified to guide forward those of us who are still on the earth plane. They are our elder brothers, our friends and guides. And these Spirits of Truth directly oversee the operations of some six hundred Spiritist study centers in the Philippines, alone.

Authority of the Spirits of Truth

The Spirits of Truth are charged with the administration of God’s will and divine instruction over all creation. As such, their services are not confined to Spiritists alone, but extend to all other groups, as well. Nothing happens on earth without their knowledge and express permission. All that comes is what is best, even pain and suffering. It is for each of us to seek out the answers to the mysteries of life.

They are behind the renewed activities of the oriental gurus and the western evangelists. They are directly involved in the miraculous healings effected through charismatic groups and evangelical denominations. The people of the world must all be prepared for the coming of the New Age. And the spiritual revival movements will continue to escalate until this New Age is finally here.

Qualifications of Students

In order to avail of this Higher Spiritual Learning, prospective students must have certain minimum qualifications:

1. The applicant must be genuinely motivated for the right reasons
   
   Many enter into these studies merely to satisfy their curiosity. They’ve heard something about the teachings but don’t really know what they are about. Some come for healing. The doctors have given up on them, or else, were not able to heal them. Others are just too poor; they cannot afford to go to a doctor. After hearing of miraculous healings taking place, they become attracted to the healers. Others come for the powers and increased perceptions that can be obtained. In the beginning, we all come for some selfish reasons. However, if we really want to progress in these studies, our goals must ascend to a higher order. We must be genuinely motivated to do some good, not just for ourselves, but for others, as well.
   
   
2. The applicant must have an earnest desire to learn and develop spiritually
   
   Desire fuels our efforts. Unless we want something badly enough, we won’t exert the necessary efforts and we can never attain. We also need to have a clear objective. And it must be the right objective. The purpose of these studies is not to be the pursuit of worldly goals. Worldly matters are of no great concern to the Spirits of Truth. Instead, they are primarily and exclusively focused on spiritual objectives and spiritual development. These are the things that are far more important to God. We must also realize that all things can be learned provided we apply ourselves to our studies.
   
   
3. The applicant must be serious, determined and willing to persevere
   
   These studies require great sacrifices, much time and patient efforts. No one can continue unless he is deeply committed. Each lesson carries a high price in terms of sweat and tears, pain and suffering. All things of value are worth paying their price.

These three are the most important qualifications. The rest come later. It doesn’t matter that you are a sinner. We all are, anyway. And no matter how grave your sin, provided you meet these three requirements, you can be accepted as a student.

You may feel incapable of a total commitment. That is alright, too. Your instruction can be gradual and suited to your own particular needs. You can study part-time if you cannot do it full-time. No one can study all the time, either. Everyone still needs to attend to some worldly concerns.

Impediments to Learning

Those who decide to pursue these studies have many obstacles they will need to overcome:

1. Pride
   
   We should have confidence in ourselves and take pride in our accomplishments. However, we should not delude ourselves. No matter what our present status in life, how powerful we may be, how successful or how rich, we still have much to learn. Even though we may have attended the best schools and are teachers in our own right, still, we don’t know enough. "The knowledge of the world is foolishness to God." We should always be open to instruction from all quarters. Those who are behind us can remind us of the lessons we have already learned. Those who are ahead can provide valuable insights to guide us. There is Light in the greatest and in the least.
   
   
2. Impatience
   
   Truth must be built from the ground up. It takes time to build solid foundations. All knowledge based on false premises cannot endure. Every proposition must be thoroughly scrutinized and understood before they are accepted. Many want the truth now, not tomorrow, not next week, but today, now. But this is like asking a doctor of medicine who completed his education only after many years of study to impart all he knows to a student in just a couple of days or weeks and expect that student to be able to heal outright. This cannot be, nor is this reasonable. Learning necessarily requires much time and patient efforts.
   
   
3. Close-mindedness
   
   We need to be open to new concepts and teachings. Otherwise, we won’t be able to progress. It is understandable for us to be attached to our present beliefs. However, if life does not conform to these beliefs, then our understanding must be wrong. We should seek out new answers where our own are proven inadequate. It is especially difficult to let go of long-held beliefs and false notions, but this must be done before we can move forward. Life is a continuous breaking down and building anew, but each time, better than before.
   
   
4. Inability to be true to self
   
   Let us not pretend to be good when we are not. We must be honest enough to admit our faults and weaknesses. We should see ourselves as we really are without the frills and the trimmings. We can effect necessary improvements only after we recognize our character deficiencies. God is righteous and we need to be like Him before we can really know Him and live with Him in His kingdom.
   
   
5. Worldly involvements
   
   Certain earthly preoccupations are still necessary and, in fact, should take precedence over our spiritual pursuits. However, we should not overemphasize their importance. Instead, we should keep our spiritual goals always in sight and give them the priority they deserve.
   
   
6. Lust for the things of the world
   
   For as long as we are thirsty, we need to drink. Similarly, we need to satisfy our worldly cravings. However, earthly things are not to be desired. We should gradually turn from them and prefer, instead, the things of the spirit. The more we remain fascinated by worldly pleasures, the longer it will take us to attain to the real treasures in heaven.
   
   
7. Wrong attitudes
   
   Some are far too demanding. They think God owes them an explanation. They never think to mend their ways, instead. But God only answers those who wait patiently with an open and repentant heart. Others want every benefit without working for them. They argue that Jesus already paid for their sins and that God is like a genie, just waiting at their pleasure to grant their every wish. But this is not what God has decreed. Instead, we should never expect something for nothing. More, we must be willing to give before we can receive.

Limitations of the Student

Contrary to what most people believe, our life did not begin when we were born. In fact, we were already existing before this world was created. We have come a long way but we have only just begun. The road stretches farther still.

We are presently, each of us, at a particular stage in the order of evolution. We have already learned much and experienced much which have shaped our character and conditioned our attitudes and predispositions. We have enabled ourselves to easily comprehend many things by intuitively remembering the essence of those lessons which we have already learned in our past lives. We have also developed many of our faculties and abilities, which can just as easily be made available to us in this life.

From here, we move on to new lessons, but this time, progress proceeds more slowly. This explains why each of us understands differently, why we have different inborn abilities, talents, likes and dislikes and why each has different needs that require special attention.

Some of us are more ready to turn spiritual than others, owing to their having had more incarnations and more experiences. Those who are more advanced will be more open and ready for these teachings, they having satisfied much of their worldly cravings in lives past. Similarly, they will be entitled to receive much higher instruction than the others who are still in the lower stages of development.

Limitations of Mediums

Likewise, mediums, including the prophets of old, although supposed to be servants of the Lord and the Spirits of Truth are not necessarily already very highly evolved spiritually. Every one of them is still a student undergoing specialized instruction and training. They have attained to varying levels of spiritual attainment and spiritual understanding. Their mediumistic abilities are proficient to the degree to which they have developed them in their past lives. However, depending on their level in the order of evolution, they still do many foolish things and are themselves full of superstitions. In addition, they commit a lot of mistakes, besides. Therefore, concerning any message relayed through them, there will always be some amount of distortion.

Where complex concepts are involved, these must first be understood and interpreted by the medium before he may effectively relay the information. But there are many higher principles that are beyond the ordinary medium’s capacity to comprehend. Such principles will filter out like coded messages and the student will then have to read between the lines.

Where thoughts and not the actual words are transmitted by the Spirits, the mediums have to translate them into their own words drawing from their poor vocabulary. In fact, our own English and all other languages combined are so thoroughly deficient to describe higher spiritual principles and deeper truths. Therefore, in the translation into words, so much is lost.

Where the medium disagrees with any message or if such message runs counter to his strongly held beliefs, he is bound to resist and even issue a contrary message which is more in accord with his own understanding and belief.

Sometimes, the medium may have a vested interest in matters relating to the communication. It takes a very highly evolved and ethical person not to take advantage by influencing the message to suit his own objectives. Many mediums fall short of this criterion.

Mediums also have a tendency to affect the quality and tone of the message depending on whether they like or dislike the students under instruction. Similarly, any serious character flaw or deficiency on the part of the medium will taint the messages.

Further, each medium has his own field of specialization. Some are especially knowledgeable as far as the principles and teachings are concerned. Others focus more on the development of mediumship. While others are particularly competent only in the healing aspects of the teachings.

In all these, it is important to remember that no matter how pure the water you pour into the glass, the water gets contaminated if the glass is dirty. And no medium is perfectly clean or thoroughly competent.

Limitations of the Communicating Spirit

There is always a Spirit-in-charge of the proceedings. We also have our own guardian angels to assist us. However, owing to the need for specialized knowledge depending on the lesson at hand, all classes of spirits are allowed to communicate with us. Just like us, they, too, have different degrees of knowledge, different capabilities, styles and viewpoints.

We shall know them by their language and the thoughts that they impart. We should continue to allow them to communicate with us for as long as the messages and guidance they provide bring good. However, once the opposite becomes true, then we should be wary and act accordingly, even to the extent of terminating the communication.

Methods of Guidance

In the various Spiritist study centers, guidance is provided in many different ways. The messages given through trance or telepathic mediums clarify the old truths. New insights are given. Daily, the old superstitions and misconceptions are gradually being dispelled by the Light of Truth.

There are available for reference all the various sacred books, religious writings and other inspired works, old and more recent, of every religion covering all the theoretical aspects of the teachings. Sometimes our attention will be called to a certain book or item of information which specifically addresses some particular need of the moment. Sometimes our Guides will inspire someone to personally deliver their important message. At other times while we sleep, we are allowed to visit the Astral World where we can confer with our Guides. When we awaken, we will be able to retain some subconscious memory of the important highlights of the meeting although, in general, our conscious mind just vaguely remembers that we had a very pleasant dream.

In order to prove the theoretical teachings, we need the necessary practical experiences. Many such experiences can be provided through the facility of mediumship. Remember that we have developed some of these faculties in our past lives. None of these developed abilities are ever lost. There are enough child prodigies and people with inborn talents who are living proofs of this truth. We just need to undergo a process of remembering in order to recover these forgotten abilities and powers. Once our faculties have been restored to their previous level of utility, then we can proceed to develop them further with the help of the Spirits of Truth. In addition to providing proofs, we are also given the opportunity to help others through the use of these spiritual powers.

All of our experiences are guided to a certain degree. Conditions and circumstances are specially simulated to afford us the best opportunity to learn our required lessons. We believe ourselves to be flesh and blood but we are not. We are spirit beings. We think the earth is our home but heaven is where we really belong. We feel harmed when our body suffers when instead, our spirit consciousness learns and develops. We are afraid to die when "it is in dying that we are born to eternal life." This world is, after all, the World of Illusion. Things are not really what they seem to be. The World of Reality lies just beyond earth. We are able to learn much from our guided earthly experiences. However, learning not tested is not proved, hence we are also required to undergo continuous and rigorous testing to prove that we really have learned our lessons.

Every new lesson and every test of our learning bring the pain and the suffering that cannot be avoided. How can we learn unless we experience the beautiful and the ugly, the good and the bad, the pleasurable and the painful? How can we be tested to see if we will return love for hate unless someone hates us, and good for evil unless we are harmed? How can we practice non-retaliation unless we fall victim to some crime? How can we learn patience unless we experience hassles and delays? Tolerance, unless we become victims of prejudice and domination?

Further, our mistakes all have to be rectified. Our debts must be paid. Therefore, sufficient opportunities will be provided to enable us to even the score, clean our slate. Where needed, we will be compelled to experience the harm we inflicted upon another to the same degree. These are the consequences of the Law of Karma.

And in order for us to get ahead and store up treasure in Heaven, we are provided the excellent opportunities to render some valuable services to our fellowmen.

Other Guidelines and Rules Relevant to Our Studies

Before we can make any real headway in these studies, there are certain guide rules we should also consider. We have discussed how the student must have to overcome some major obstacles that impede his progress. We enumerated the limitations of all those involved and all these must be taken into account. Every student must learn to discern before he can earn the right to know the truth. He must also make allowances for all such limitations.

These studies are not for everyone. In fact, it is not enough that we ask to be guided. We also need to be deserving of the guidance. Many complain that they are unable to understand: they have not gotten healed; or that they have seen no miraculous signs or manifestations. From the point of view of the Spirits of Truth, these are advanced studies to be administered only to those who have prepared themselves for this specialized kind of instruction. "Don’t give that which is holy to dogs neither cast your pearls before swine." According to our auric lights, the Spirits of Truth know who are ready and who are not. Like the fisherman who throws small fish back into the sea for harvesting at a later date, those who are ready are encouraged and guided but those who are not are turned away.

All those under instruction will have to imbibe the principles they have learned in their daily life. As we hold to the teachings and apply them, we will be able to understand more and more. It is the practice that brings unfoldment. Enlightenment cannot just be given. It needs to be earned by doing.

Many come seeking for healing or solutions to their problems. They ask for money, a new house, a good job or a faithful husband or wife. And to many, even these are given. However, the genuine student knows that all we really need are already provided to us, even without our asking for them. Instead, he wisely strives to understand the hidden lessons and spiritual blessings behind his every experience, even those that bring pain and sorrow, and then, endeavors to act in a manner that will afford him every benefit possible from them. He realizes that this is the only way he can prevent the recurrence of such unwanted miseries in his life.

In attaining to our goal of righteousness, we should not be too critical or too lenient. We must be practical and understanding concerning our efforts. There is only so much that we can do. Embattled as we are by powerful forces of evil in the world, we are bound to falter, even succumb, at times. "The flesh is weak." However, we just need to realize our mistakes and strive to do better next time. In all these, self-realization self-corrects automatically. Once we realize our faults and weaknesses, then we can be patient with ourselves and we can continue to pursue our spiritual goals at our own pace and in our own time.

All the different Spiritist study centers represent different levels of instruction and aspects of the divine teachings. There are different approaches and teaching styles. There are also different fields of specialization. Every student is enjoined to go on missions to various centers and get exposed to different mediums and Spirit teachers. This will enable him to better evaluate the differences and wisely choose which center to attend and which particular group, Spirit teacher or medium can best help him to progress.

In the world, people place too much trust on conferred names and titles. They also want to know: Is he rich? Is he powerful? Whom does he know? But, the way of the world is not the way of God. With reference to Spirit communications, it is the thought, the message, that is important. The source of the message is not so important, because truth speaks for itself. Therefore, every message should be subjected to the test of reason in the light of our own individual experiences. The basic rule is to accept only those that we find to be reasonable and to reject all that are not.

Our Choice

This then is what Spiritism (Guidance by the Spirits of Truth) is all about. Spiritism is the Path that some have chosen who seek to know their God. And if you so choose, you could make this Path your own.

But begin your journey today. Turn from wickedness and hold to the good. Heaven waits for all who wish to enter therein. But only the most determined can ever find the way. It is for each of us to make our own decision. We, alone, have the right to make the choice between darkness and light, between earthly sorrows and the peace, happiness and eternal life that can only be found in heaven.

Where are you, now?

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In the order of evolution, where are you situated? Where do you want to be?

Different Orders of Spirits

(From the ‘Spirits' Book’)

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FIRST ORDER — PURE SPIRITS

First Class — Pure Spirits

General Characteristics — The influence of matter, null; a superiority, both intellectual and moral, so absolute as to constitute what, in comparison with the spirits of all the other orders, may be termed perfection.

Spirits of this order have passed through every degree of the scale of progress and have freed themselves from all the impurities of materiality. Having attained the sum of perfection of which created beings are susceptible, they no longer have to undergo either trials or expiations. Being no longer subject to reincarnation in perishable bodies, they enter on the life of eternity in the immediate presence of God. They are in the enjoyment of a beatitude which is unalterable, because they are no longer subject to the wants and vicissitudes of material life; but this beatitude is not the monotonous idleness of perpetual contemplation. They are the messengers and ministers of God, the executors of His orders in the maintenance of universal harmony. They exercise a sovereign command over all spirits inferior to themselves, aid them in accomplishing the work of their purification, and assign to each of them a mission proportioned to the progress already made by them. To assist men in their distresses, to excite them to the love of good or to the expiation of the faults which keep them back on the road to the supreme felicity, are for them congenial occupations. They are sometimes spoken of as angels, archangels or seraphim. They can, when they choose to do so, enter into communication with men.

SECOND ORDER — GOOD SPIRITS

Second Class — High Spirits

These unite, in a very high degree, scientific knowledge, wisdom and goodness. Their language, inspired only by the purest benevolence, is always noble and elevated, often sublime. Their superiority renders them more apt than any others to impart to us just and true ideas in relation to the incorporeal world, within the limits of the knowledge permitted to mankind. They willingly enter into communication with those who seek for truth in simplicity and sincerity, and who are sufficiently freed from the bonds of materiality to be capable of understanding it; but they turn from those whose inquiries are prompted only by curiosity, or who are drawn away from the path of rectitude by the attractions of materiality.

When, under exceptional circumstances, they incarnate themselves in this earth, it is always for the accomplishment of a mission of progress; and they thus show us the highest type of perfection to which we can aspire in the present world.

Third Class — Wise Spirits

The most elevated moral qualities form their distinctive characteristics. Without having arrived at the possession of unlimited knowledge, they have reached a development of intellectual capacity that enables them to judge correctly of men and of things.

Fourth Class — Learned Spirits

They are specially distinguished by the extent of their knowledge. They are less interested in moral questions than in scientific investigation, for which they have a greater aptitude; but their scientific studies are always prosecuted with a view to practical utility, and they are entirely free from the base passions common to spirits of the lower degrees of advancement.

Fifth Class — Benevolent Spirits

Their dominant quality is kindness. They take pleasure in rendering service to men and in protecting them, but their knowledge is somewhat narrow. They have progressed in morality rather than in intelligence.

THIRD ORDER — IMPERFECT SPIRITS

Sixth Class — Noisy and Boisterous Spirits

Spirits of this kind do not, strictly speaking, form a distinct class in virtue of their personal qualities; they may belong to all the classes of the third order. They often manifest their presence by the production of phenomena perceptible by the senses, such as raps, the movement and abnormal displacing of solid bodies, the agitation of the air, etc. They appear to be, more than any other class of spirits, attached to matter; they seem to be the principal agents in determining the vicissitudes of the elements of the globe, and to act upon the air, water, fire and the various bodies in the entrails of the earth. Whenever these phenomena present a character of intention and intelligence, it is impossible to attribute them to a mere fortuitous and physical cause. All spirits are able to produce physical phenomena; but spirits of elevated degree usually leave them to those of a lower order, more apt for action upon matter than for the things of intelligence, and when they judge it to be useful to produce physical manifestations, employ spirits of subaltern degree as their auxiliaries.

Seventh Class — Neutral Spirits

They are not sufficiently advanced to take an active part in doing good, nor are they bad enough to be active in doing wrong. They incline sometimes to the one, sometimes to the other; and do not rise above the ordinary level of humanity, either in point of morality or of intelligence. They are strongly attached to the things of this world, whose gross satisfactions they regret.

Eight Class — Spirits Who Pretend to More Science than They Possess

Their knowledge is often considerable, but they imagine themselves to know a good deal more than they know in reality. Having made a certain amount of progress from various points of view, their language has an air of gravity that may easily give a false impression as to their capacities and enlightenment; but their ideas are generally nothing more than the reflection of the prejudices and false reasoning of the terrestrial life. Their statements contain a mixture of truths and absurdities, in the midst of which, traces of presumption, pride, jealousy and obstinacy, from which they have not yet freed themselves, are abundantly perceptible.

Ninth Class — Frivolous Spirits

They are ignorant, mischievous, unreasonable and addicted to mockery. They meddle with everything and reply to every question without paying any attention to truth. They delight in causing petty annoyances, in raising false hopes of petty joys, in misleading people by mystifications and trickery. The spirits vulgarly called hobgoblins, will-o'-the-wisps, gnomes, etc. belong to this class. They are under the orders of spirits of a higher category, who make use of them as we do of servants.

Tenth Class — Impure Spirits

They are inclined to evil, and make it an object of all their thoughts and activities. As spirits, they give to men perfidious counsels, stir up discord and distrust, and assume every sort of mask in order the more effectually to deceive. They beset those whose character is weak enough to lead them to yield to their suggestions, and whom they thus draw aside from the path of progress, rejoicing when they are to retard their advancement by causing them to succumb under the appointed trials of the corporeal life. Spirits of this class may be recognized by their language, for the employment of coarse or trivial expressions by spirits, as by men, is always an indication of moral, if not of intellectual, inferiority. Their communications show the baseness of their inclinations; and though they may try to impose upon us by speaking with an appearance of reason and propriety, they are unable to keep up that false appearance, and end by betraying their real quality. Certain nations have made of them infernal deities; others designate them by the name of demons, evil genii or evil spirits.

The human beings in whom they are incarnated are addicted to all the vices engendered by vile and degrading passions — sensuality, cruelty, roguery, hypocrisy, cupidity, avarice. They do evil for its own sake, without any definite motive; and, from hatred to all that is good, they generally choose their victims from among honest and worthy people. They are the pests of humanity, to whatever rank of society they belong; and the varnish of a civilized education is ineffectual to cure or to hide their degrading defects.

Reincarnation and Karma

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The Earth as a Classroom

Unique Characteristics of Life on Earth

Simulated Circumstances and Situations

Physical handicaps

War and peace

Injustices

Poverty and wealth

Fame and notoriety, success and failure

Power and position

Problems and crises

Family relationships, marriage, divorce and single-blessedness

Natural calamities

Birth and death

How God Provides For Our Needs

The Concept of Predestination

Karma and Karmic Consequences

Knowing Self

The Earth as a Classroom

To those who don’t know, even the simplest things can be very complicated. But even the most complicated things are really quite simple to those who know. In every instance, all things complex can always be reduced to simpler and more common terms. God is simple, just as He is complex. And in order to better understand the meaning of life on Earth, let us assume, if as yet you cannot believe, that the Earth, however large and complex it may seem to some of us, is, simply, as a classroom, one among many in the Universe.

Our sun, to which system we belong, is only one of the hundred million or more stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way, which, itself, is just one of many galaxies in the observable Universe. In the vastness of outer space, our planet is only a tiny and insignificant speck of dust suspended in a limitless void. It is far more reasonable, therefore, to consider that we are not alone. And that, in all probability, there are countless millions of other planets capable of generating life. To a growing number of our scientists, there are enough confirmed UFO sightings and extra-terrestrial related incidents to strongly suggest the very real possibility of the existence of other and more intelligent life forms originating from these other planets.

To those who are spiritually inclined, however, there are far more reliable sources of information, which do not only suggest, but confirm such a possibility. Some adepts are allowed to astral travel and visit these other planets and bring back information to people on Earth. According to these sources, there are, definitely, other planets harboring life, though they may not necessarily be in the form to which we are accustomed. There are other classrooms where higher learning is undertaken and other subjects are taken up.

As to the subject lessons taken up on Earth, the Bible spells it out for us in ‘Genesis’. God told Adam and Eve, "You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; for if you do, you will die." Jesus later on tells us to "Seek, first, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things will be added on to us." Simply put then, we are here to learn what is good and what is bad from first-hand experience. And in practicing right living, we will henceforth be able to carry on with the rest of our eternal lives in a way that is pleasing in the eyes of God.

We are spirit beings. However, much like human babies, in the beginning, we were created innocent and ignorant. God endowed us with eternal life and gave us free will. We are of the same essence as God, and are capable of the very same properties. We are parts of the Supreme God. However, we who are yet here on Earth are as children, childish and immature, in the beginning stages of our spiritual development.

In the Spirit World, in our natural spirit state, there is no pressing need to undertake the activities that afford learning. There is no physical pain. There is no hunger or thirst. There is every freedom and few limitations. There is, therefore, a tendency for us to take things too easily and to neglect certain important matters relating to the development of our character that are distasteful to us or are, otherwise, difficult to learn. This results in weakness that requires our special attention in order to correct. Now, pain and suffering are very effective teachers. They teach the lessons that are difficult to understand. And since pain and suffering can best be experienced in a material plane such as the Earth, therefore, we choose to occupy and motivate material flesh bodies that will provide us the vehicle for learning these hard lessons.

Unique Characteristics of Life on Earth

On Earth, when we study certain subjects, we equip our classroom with special facilities. To illustrate, when we study chemistry, we have a laboratory, test tubes, chemicals, Bunsen burners, and we wear ordinary school uniforms. However, when we shift to other subjects, our whole surroundings may change completely. Should we be taking up physical education, then we might go to the gym or the swimming pool, wear rubber shoes, shorts or swimming trunks, whichever is applicable. And as we take on various other studies, our whole classroom changes accordingly, depending on what is needed. Similarly, Earth, as a place for study, has certain specialized facilities, which may not be as available elsewhere in creation.

One of these is a form of amnesia concerning our existence prior to our birth in the physical world. Usually, we cannot recall our previous past lives or incarnations. Nevertheless, insights into these past experiences may be available through our intuition. One of the reasons why this condition is advantageous to learning is that it limits distractions. It keeps us focused on the work we are to do. It otherwise conserves our energies and enables us to work more purposefully towards the attainment of our set objectives in life. The truth is, we know a lot more than what we bring to Earth; but we don’t bring everything, because everything is not needed. Instead, we bring only that which we need to succeed in what we have set out to do.

Another condition is a compulsion to work in order to sustain life. Man requires, among others, food, clothing and shelter. In the higher planes, we have no need of these. But, upon the Earth, these needs impel us to some action. This compulsion guards against indolence or passivity and instead, promotes industry. And in the process, we are able to develop in every way.

Another advantage is the provision of a disguise or a means of camouflage. Spirit age is apart from physical age. Spirit entities are at different levels of evolvement. However, this fact is not evident, because the spirit is covered up by the physical body. And man tends to judge the worthiness of another man by the physical body which is the part of us that is visible, and not by the spirit, because this is hidden. In effect, any spirit can dress himself up in fine clothes or physical bodies and pretend to all the world that he is a great spirit, when, in fact, he is not. However, in the Spirit World, there is no falsehood and nothing can be hidden. By our colors which denote our actual state of development, everyone will know us for who we really are.

Still, the putting on of a disguise serves to provide a fresh new beginning to those who have to start over. It affords them an easier time, not being bothered by the stigma attaching to past failures. For those who have done well previously, there comes a greater appreciation for the things they have earned and will again enjoy. It is also true that we tend to take many things for granted, but we appreciate them all the more when we experience the loss of them.

Another advantage is the fear of death instilled in us. In the Spirit reality, there is no death. But, if we did not have this fear of death, many would be tempted to quit life at the first sign of difficulty, rather than strive to do their utmost until they are able to overcome every hardship. This fear is with us, then, so that it may keep us alive, at school upon the Earth and open to our lessons. This condition prevents our skipping classes, fights our escapist tendencies and promotes learning.

Another unique advantage is the illusion of physical pain and disease. We are spirit beings; we are not our physical bodies. While pain alerts us to the need of correcting a physical disorder, the actual disease or physical ailment, itself, serves as an eye-opener and warning device. It is a clear signal that denotes the existence of a very real spiritual defect that is the true cause of the disease. And as we seek for relief from such physical ailments, we are able to learn of the real and spiritual root causes of these conditions and we, inevitably, arrive at some deeper understanding into the meaning of our life.

Still another unique advantage is the illusion of sex. In the Highest Realms, there is no sex. We will be as the angels, complete in one. The male and the female principles correspond to the positive and negative aspects of a single entity. Earth society has assigned specific roles to each of the sexes. The male focuses on wisdom, knowledge, justice, fairness, responsibility and decision-making, among others; while the female usually centers on love and understanding, bringing up children, sympathy, affection and the like. The male is the more dominant, while the female is the dominated, though, not always. The subsequent union of all of these attributes into one produces a more perfect and balanced individual.

Sometimes, it is determined that for greater spiritual progress, both roles, the male and the female, have to be undertaken in the course of a single lifetime, then, the third sex results. This is true in the case of those who have undergone operations to alter their sex as well as for the hermaphrodites. This alternative lifestyle, far from being unreasonable or illogical, is actually the most advantageous condition in certain cases, because it enables a spirit entity to have a more balanced development, being afforded the opportunity to develop both male and female aspects of its character without having to wait for another incarnation.

The choice of sex depends on the traits one desires to develop. We should take on the sex which will afford us the means to become strong where we are weak. However, when a spirit entity has a strong personal preference for one particular sex over another, usually, certain traits become more developed than others. And, when the time comes that we are required to incarnate as a member of the opposite sex than that preferred, our dominant traits tend to exert too great an influence resulting in the homosexual or lesbian condition.

Such an imbalanced state, however, is not at all abnormal. Until we are able to attain to perfect development, which is not possible for those who are still here on Earth, we will all be suffering from a similar imbalance. However, eventually, these, too, will be resolved.

And in addition, other spiritual benefits similar to those available to all who find themselves discriminated against, as will be discussed later, can also be available. Therefore, even these seemingly undesirable conditions from the worldly point of view are really desirable and advantageous from the point of view of the spiritual.

Simulated Circumstances and Situations

Upon the Earth, the medium of instruction is experience. In order that the requisite experiences may be undertaken, certain circumstances and situations are necessarily simulated. These experiences correspond to experiments done in class to demonstrate the validity of proposed theories and, at the same time, they provide the most effective means of testing out what the student has already learned.

The more common of these are the following:

1. Physical handicaps
   
   These can be any physical deformity, even blindness or deafness. These conditions may be inborn or subsequently induced, whether intentionally or, seemingly, by accident.
   
   When we have a physical handicap, we are not able to function as well as others. And this teaches us to proceed at a much slower pace and be more patient. Should a deformity be caused by someone, intentionally, very definitely, we would learn that to cause one harm is a very wrong thing, and the opportunity would be given to us to practice forgiveness. Also, this condition would provide us the most effective means of understanding the plight of the handicapped. Likewise, we would be placed in a position where we may receive and appreciate the mercy and sympathy bestowed on us by others. Further, being dependent on others, we would learn to be more humble and, in our turn, even in our future incarnations, we would be more open to helping all others who may be less fortunate in life.
   
   One of the worst rulers in history was Nero. Tyranny and murder characterized his rule as Emperor of Rome. It is said that he caused the burning of two-thirds of the City of Rome and, thereafter, caused the persecution of the Christians whom he made his scapegoats. All the while, he must have thought that he would never be made to pay for his crimes. But he was wrong.
   
   According to the Edgar Cayce readings, the entity that was Nero lived again. Only, this time, in a sub-human condition. He lived, but it was as if he were dead, because his new physical body was totally deformed and his whole body was continually racked with pain. He was mentally deranged and he could not do the simplest things without the aid of others. Such is the fate of all who transgress the law of love.
   
   
2. War and peace
   
   In like manner, these bring lessons in courage, kindness, mercy, sympathy and compassion. Conditions of war bring to one an immunity to strife and violent action. It acts in much the same way as vaccination. We gladly undergo a few moments of pain and discomfort in the present in exchange for total freedom from the contemplated affliction for the remainder of our eternal lives. Consequently, the ways of peace become the best choices.
   
   Napoleon is the envy of many men. He conquered half of Europe and crowned himself Emperor of the French. He rose to the very peak and crashed down to the bottom. In all these, the accompanying frustration, despondency and the total loss of all that one considers important are utterly unbearable. Still, this entity has persisted in his lust for all the wrong things. And in his subsequent incarnations, according to Arthur Ford, he has continued, unsuccessfully, to bring back his lost glories through his involvement in one war after another. And he has suffered much and will suffer more still, until he mends his ways and he espouses the cause of peace and non-aggression.
   
   
3. Injustices
   
   These refer to the suppression or abuse of all forms of human rights and freedoms. In order for us to be clarified on these concepts, it is necessary that we fall victim to such suppression or abuse. And in so experiencing such unjust conditions, we learn to be more tolerant, and we learn to live and let live, allowing for others the same degree of liberties and freedoms that we, ourselves, require. These conditions teach justice and fairness, understanding and tolerance.
   
   To atone for their atrocities, certain members of the Ku Klux Klan and other similarly motivated organizations may be required to experience to the same degree those very same atrocities they caused others to suffer, while, at the same time, helping the cause of the oppressed. In this connection, some past abusers may even return as great reformers. Hitler and his minions will have to repay in like manner, because no one can escape God’s justice. Everyone must pay to the last penny.
   
   
4. Poverty and wealth
   
   These teach lessons in pride and humility, kindness to those in need. By experiencing these conditions, we learn to manage our resources more efficiently, whether they be meager or abundant. Conditions of poverty and other similar handicaps provide us with the opportunity to rise above ourselves in the service of others. For "We must be perfect, as the Father in heaven is perfect."
   
   
5. Fame and notoriety, success and failure
   
   These are fleeting and illusory. All things are continuing in nature. Each experience brings some gain. Each success or failure is only a stepping-stone towards some greater success. Repetitive experiences of these conditions free us from delusions of grandeur and build in us confidence in self and in self’s own abilities.
   
   
6. Power and position
   
   These opportunities are given to those who need to develop leadership qualities. They clarify the laws governing the use of power and authority over others. Such conditions enable us to come to the realization that all power is supposed to be administered for the good of others and not just for one’s own benefit.
   
   
7. Problems and crises
   
   These are great builders of strength, fortitude and patience. Likewise, they bring on added skills in the process. The subsequent result is greater wisdom in all things.
   
   
8. Family relationships, marriage, divorce and single-blessedness
   
   Although marriages to be consummated on Earth are made in heaven, in heaven, itself, there are no marriages. We will be complete entities attaining to union with God. Our goal is oneness. These stated conditions teach selflessness, brotherhood and eventual oneness. The progressive stages to oneness are: a single individual, a family, a community; a nation, brotherhood-in-spirit; oneness of all creation and oneness with God.
   
   Before we can advance in selflessness, we must first learn the basic principles of give and take, of self-sacrifice and of consideration for others. Ignorance of these is the cause of broken relationships and marriages. And when one cannot get along with others, in future incarnations, he will find himself, alone. These are the effects of our own negative inclinations. And as to the consequences of such negative attitudes, there can be no escape.
   
   
9. Natural calamities
   
   These may include floods, fires and earthquakes. They bring necessary lessons in flexibility, avoidance, acceptance and adaptability while bringing on added wisdom.
   
   
10. Birth and death
    
    Actually, being born on Earth is, simply, coming to class, and death is returning home to the Spirit World, which is the real world. In order for us to be able to manifest upon the Earth plane, we must incarnate and motivate a physical body. Only in this way can we avail of the special opportunities available on Earth towards our further spiritual development. When our contemplated lessons are over, then, we die. And through death, we are reborn into the Spirit World, our true home.

How God Provides For Our Needs

God, in His infinite wisdom, allows and, in fact, approves of these conditions, circumstances and situations — poverty, war, physical handicaps, injustices and calamities — so that these conditions and circumstances may benefit the spirit being, even at the expense of the physical body, which is not at all important in the eyes of God.

However, these very same conditions and circumstances are the very things that man, in his ignorance, in his illusion, seeks to abolish. But if we will only seek for the truth, then, the truth shall set us free.

Most of the people in the world may find it extremely difficult to understand and, much less, accept the validity of these insights into the true meaning and purpose behind our Earthly experiences. Such is the sorry state of ignorance prevailing in the world. However, fortunately for us, God is not so affected by such human incapacity. He thinks not as the world thinks. And if only man could accept these truths, then, he would better appreciate the merits of Reincarnation and the Karmic Law and, likewise, he would be in a better position to fully benefit from their operation.

The Concept of Predestination

But to clarify matters further, let us go back a while, to the time before we were born. At that time, somewhere in the Spirit World, there was a conference. We conferred with our guides for the purpose of formulating a plan of Earthly existence designed to provide us with the most effective means of further developing ourselves. Upon the Earth, we can compare this to our schedule for the following day, or as it relates to class, it is the lesson plan. This plan is what we often refer to as our karma. And it is the natural consequence and result of all our accumulated deeds and misdeeds.

Karma and Karmic Consequences

Karma is the law of compensation and retribution, the law of cause and effect. It means: what we sow, we reap; love and we will be loved; forgive and we will be forgiven; an eye for an eye, and all debts must be repaid. Karma then guarantees the restoration of harmony and balance in all things. And if we are wise, we will learn to do only what is good, in order that only good will return to us.

Karma may also be defined, as it applies to Earth life, as the provisioning of simulated conditions, circumstances and situations designed to teach the essence of love and virtue. In preparing our Life Plan, we include certain conditions, circumstances and situations, those that we discussed earlier, poverty, war, injustice, disease and death, because we are aware of their valuable contribution towards our further development.

So it is that we are taught; "Do unto others," because what we do to others and for others, we are, actually and in fact, doing to ourselves and for ourselves since this is the natural and direct consequence of the Law of Karma. In addition, remember that we are one. Whatever good comes to one part benefits the whole. And whatever harm befalls another is felt by all.

Knowing Self

Now, it is time for us to reflect on our own present situation. With the knowledge of the true realities of life, we are now in a position to diagnose our own ailments. Do we now realize who we really are? Why are we here and how best should we live the remainder of our lives? What are the things we need to learn still? Let us begin to know ourselves. And, as we continue to seek, we will find every answer.

Earth as a Classroom

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School	Cosmos, All of creation
Objective/ Purpose	Spiritual development or character building aspect in particular
Teachers	Spirits of Truth, Christ, angels, prophets, apostles, saints, avatars, gurus, spiritual masters, and adepts,
Students	Angels, humans, nature spirits, animals, plants, elementals – all at varying levels
Classrooms	Universes, planes, dimensions, globes – Earth and other planets
Physical Facilities	Physical forms, bodies, money, treasures, wealth, land, sea, buildings, houses, climate, heat, fire, etc.
Subjects	Character development, righteousness in the physical planes, development of the emotions in the astral planes, development of the mind in the mental planes and higher spiritual development in the higher planes
Teaching aids	Experiences, simulated conditions, circumstances and situations
Terms, periods	1 incarnation, 1 age (2,100 years), 1 yuga (324,000 years), 1 root race (10,000,000 years), 1 round (7 root races), 1 globe (7 rounds), 1 manvantara (period of creation)
Entrance	Incarnation or physical birth
Exit	Transition to the Spirit World or physical death

Lesson 6 -- Exercises

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Write whether you AGREE or you DISAGREE with the following statements and then, briefly, in a few sentences, explain why or why not (5 points per item)

1. God is love and He does not approve of war and death.
   
   
2. It is our duty to eradicate poverty and all forms of inequality.
   
   
3. God is not just because the rich and powerful get away with their crimes.
   
   
4. Wealth and power are the true indications of success.
   
   
5. Good men are rewarded on earth.
   
   
6. Euthanasia or mercy killing is never justified.
   
   
7. Whatever we do, whether good or bad, we do to self.
   
   
8. We choose our sex.
   
   
9. Positive thinking is the key to solving all of life’s problems.
   
   
10. Problems and crises in life are really opportunities for progress.
    
    
11. If one exercises regularly and lives moderately, he can prolong his life.
    
    
12. The insane are pathetic and insanity is a totally useless condition.
    
    
13. Homosexuals and lesbians are damned.
    
    
14. There will come a Day of Judgment.
    
    
15. Nothing good can ever come from gambling.
    
    
16. There can be no justification whatever for child abuse.
    
    
17. There is no accident in the Universe.
    
    
18. Alcoholism and drug addiction cause irreparable harm to the spirit.
    
    
19. Our human form is far superior to any alien life form.
    
    
20. Through creative visualization, we can materialize into being all that our heart desires.
    
    

Lesson 6 -- Solutions

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5 points per item

1. God is love and He does not approve of war and death.
   
   D. Because God loves us, He desires that we become more like Him. He involves us in war so that we may learn the lessons of war — love and hate, respect for the rights of others, kindness, mercy, compassion and selflessness, among others. And after our lessons are over, death brings us back home where we belong.
   
   
2. It is our duty to eradicate poverty and all forms of inequality.
   
   D. The Earth is where we learn all about life. If poverty and all other forms of so-called disadvantageous conditions are not available to be experienced, how can anyone learn patience, kindness and humility? No, all these are necessary lessons and should not be eradicated. Jesus himself said, "Don’t resist evil." However as a rule, we should always strive to place them under our control and keep them within manageable levels.
   
   
3. God is not just because the rich and powerful get away with their crimes.
   
   D. No one can escape God’s justice. In the light of Reincarnation and Karma, all debts get paid sooner or later.
   
   
4. Wealth and power are the true indications of success.
   
   D. Wealth and power are simply given to those who need to learn certain lessons best learned when one is wealthy and powerful — the proper management and use of resources and the use of authority over others. And, at the same time, the opportunity is provided where one can do a lot of good.
   
   
5. Good men are rewarded on earth.
   
   D. Sometimes, they are, but more often not. Good men, assuming that they are also wise, would really prefer to have their rewards in heaven.
   
   
6. Euthanasia or mercy killing is never justified.
   
   D. In the first place, no one really dies, he just transitions into the next world. Further, the term mercy killing connotes that the person is suffering intolerably and his condition is terminal unto death. So what is really wrong with doing something for someone who can’t do it for himself, provided he first expressly asks for your help? In any case, the rule is to do what you would want others to do for you. However due mainly to ignorance of the Truth, the laws in place in the world still regard this act to be illegal and anyone who commits such an act risks being meted severe penalties under the law.
   
   
7. Whatever we do, whether good or bad, we do to self.
   
   A. Since we are merely parts of a Whole. What we do to any other part, we do to the Whole, and we do to self — our Higher Self. Jesus said, "Whatever you have done to the least of your brothers, you have done to me."
   
   
8. We choose our sex.
   
   A. Before we are even born, we choose the circumstances and conditions that we will encounter in life. Our sex is just one of these conditions.
   
   
9. Positive thinking is the key to solving all of life’s problems.
   
   D. There is a well-thought out plan already in place and operative in every life. It is a greater plan that takes precedence over the workings of our lower earthly nature, although we are usually not consciously aware of it. Nevertheless, it is best that we adhere to this divine plan because it was formulated even before we were born and takes into consideration a lot of very important and vital information which, at the moment, we are unable to recall.
   
   Yes. A positive attitude can certainly help towards the resolution of some problems but not all, not those that will work to prevent the attainment of our spiritual objectives, not those that by the application of karma, we are duty-bound to suffer and endure. Any resolution of such problems even if achieved will only be temporary and those same circumstances and situations will recur life after life unless we learn the spiritual lessons that precisely brought on those problems and opportunities in the first place. Only then can we be totally free of them for the rest of our eternal life.
   
   
10. Problems and crises in life are really opportunities for progress.
    
    A. Problems and crises build strength and patience while bringing on added wisdom and other skills in the process.
    
    
11. If one exercises regularly and lives moderately, he can prolong his life.
    
    D. Once our planned lessons on earth are completed, we will die, leave class and go back to the Spirit World. It matters little whether we exercised or not or if we lived moderately. However, exercise and moderation do keep us fit while we are still in class, in the body.
    
    
12. The insane are pathetic and insanity is a totally useless condition.
    
    D. There are certain opportunities which are available only to those who are handicapped or completely helpless. The insane, especially, are passive recipients of kindness or abuse. Such situations afford very valuable lessons which otherwise cannot be learned as effectively.
    
    
13. Homosexuals and lesbians are damned.
    
    D. The third sex is just another condition that affords us the opportunities to learn our lessons, only more so, precisely because those belonging to this gender are looked down upon and persecuted. It is just that in the light of reincarnation, sometimes, the influence of many lives lived as a member of a particular sex is so overwhelming that when we incarnate as a member of the opposite sex, we tend to become disoriented for a time. This condition may continue until we are able to attain to a more balanced disposition. Eventually, however, we won’t need to become male, female or gay any longer, instead, we will be perfectly complete and sexless in Heaven.
    
    
14. There will come a Day of Judgment.
    
    A. There are many such days of judgment — after one earth life, at the end of an age and at the end of every major grade or cycle of instruction where the progress of spirit students in the world are evaluated and plans modified accordingly. Those who have made the grade will go on to the next higher level of instruction and those who have not done so well will have to repeat the same lessons all over again.
    
    
15. Nothing good can ever come from gambling.
    
    D. Gambling provides important lessons in decision-making, risk taking, biding one’s time, greed, self-control and discipline. In fact, those who persist will eventually develop into successful businessmen and wise decision-makers in the end.
    
    
16. There can be no justification whatever for child abuse.
    
    D. The important lessons here are not to do what you don’t want others to do to you, not to take advantage of the weakness of others, kindness, compassion and the like. Many victims were abusers in their past lives although this is not necessarily true in every case.
    
    
17. There is no accident in the Universe.
    
    A. God is in control and everything is happening according to His Divine Plan. Everything comes about through the application of natural laws, whether known or unknown. We need only to understand how and why.
    
    
18. Alcoholism and drug addiction cause irreparable harm to the spirit.
    
    D. The spirit is never harmed. Every experience adds to our store of knowledge and brings us closer to perfection. Inevitably, eventually, we will learn to take matters in hand, to gain greater control over our life and discipline ourselves more, and get back on the road to progress, harm to the disposable physical, mental and other bodies or vehicles, notwithstanding.
    
    
19. Our human form is far superior to any alien life form.
    
    D. The human form was specially designed to enable us to learn the lessons of this world most effectively. However, if we were to learn other subjects in other worlds, then other forms or vehicles may be more suitable and appropriate.
    
    
20. Through creative visualization, we can materialize into being all that our heart desires.
    
    D. While this law does operate, nevertheless, our lower earthly consciousness is subject to the higher consciousness of our Higher Self. Having access to all that we have already learned from all our past incarnations, our Higher Self is better able to judge if what our lower self proposes is really helpful to us in our present situation, spirit-wise. Where it is not, then that proposition will be rejected and all our efforts at creative visualization will not succeed.

The end, the beginning

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Dear Graduates,

We've now come to the close of our study. Now it's your turn to share your thoughts. How did you find the Course? Was it informative enough for you? Were the teachings and concepts clearly and adequately explained? Are the principles reasonable and useful to you? How were you helped, if at all? Your feedback will enable us to better serve the next batch of students.

This Course is also being administered in perpetuity and free to the general public at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/secretsofthekingdom and from there, you will be able to continue on to even more advanced studies. You are welcome to join us and conduct a review, and perhaps help us out in explaining the New Teachings to the new students. Hopefully, we will be able to generate more interest and active participation, each time around. Just click on the link above and subscribe directly or email me and I will sub you from my end.

If you feel inclined, you can help us in other ways. If you were benefited by your study, perhaps you would want to encourage others to also take up the Course. Write us a testimonial. It will be posted to our discussion lists and wherever else this Course will be administered. You can also help by spreading the word to your friends whom you feel might be interested in initiating their own quest for Higher Truth. Invite them to take up the Course and join our continuing studies. We assure you that their points of view, even if different from ours, will be welcome.

Congratulations on your completion! You will never come to regret it if you will apply all that you have learned in your daily life from hereon in. This is your new beginning. Have a good life!

Angel Luz

About INNER QUEST

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INNER QUEST Foundation, Inc. (INNER QUEST) is a non-stock, non-profit and tax-exempt foundation registered under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. Founded in December 1987, it is committed to pursue the following primary objectives:

• To encourage and initiate man’s quest for deeper spiritual truths.
  
  
• To work for the eventual coming together of all divergent faiths and schools of thought by laying stress on their essential unity and the similarities in their basic teachings.
  
  
• To teach and propagate the hidden universal laws leading to man’s spiritual unfoldment.
  
  
• To work for the progressive development and proper utilization of all potentialities latent in man.
  
  
• To promote man’s continuing refinement of his character and his espousal of a commitment to live in the service of his fellowmen.
  
  

The Inner Quest Logo

The golden cross in the center signifies the divine relationship and essential unity between God and man (the vertical line) and man with his fellow created beings (the horizontal line). There are eight outer sections representing the infinite levels of spiritual attainment and awareness. Included here are all the different religions and schools of thought. At every level of creation, there is a questing inward for God, while God at the very core (the eigth-pointed star) reaches outward to us from within and manifests through every level of His creation. Everyone and everything in God, the All in All represented by the circle, signifying the oneness of all.

The mission of INNER QUEST

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Planting the seeds of Truth

Today, there is no reason for anyone to remain in the dark, ignorant concerning life, not knowing what it is about. Simply choose the Light. Open your eyes. Begin to see more clearly. You too can begin to understand.

Under the guidance of the Archangel Michael, INNER QUEST was founded in 1987 to help in the preparations for the coming New Age of Enlightenment. Tasked by the Holy Spirits to help disseminate their New Teachings, INNER QUEST then is a school or a center for spiritual learning.

INNER QUEST is a wellspring, a source of divine guidance and knowledge, a vehicle or medium through which the Spirits of Truth can administer their divine guidance and instruction. It flows rivers of living water from which anyone may draw as much as he requires or wants, as much as he is ready to drink — that water that once you drink, you will never thirst again.

However, INNER QUEST is only a link in the chain that is the New Age Movement. We continue the work of the Masters and the Spirits of Truth, while attempting to unite as one all that have come before. There is only One God and one Truth, after all. It is merely a matter of being able to access the entire Big Picture.

Therefore, we at INNER QUEST are not against any religion, sect or school. We support them, in fact, hopefully adding to their store of divine knowledge should they be receptive to the Spirits’ leading. Every religion and school, without exception, is limited to the extent that they only address certain aspects and levels of the Teachings and not all. But we fully recognize their good intentions. And all who work for good are working for God, too.

In the sense that we teach concerning God, INNER QUEST may be considered as a religion. However, INNER QUEST is not a religion because we do not demand the blind acceptance of what we teach. Moreover, we do not seek converts, nor do we require that our students convert from their religion even after they complete their studies. We merely introduce for the students’ consideration certain new ideas and higher concepts, which we know to be true, that can gradually, but inevitably, displace all half-truths and false teachings. And after having learned and equipped themselves more fully, they can then serve where the Holy Spirit leads them to serve, according to their own perceiving.

INNER QUEST teaches only those principles that can be verified by everyone through his own direct personal experiences. Experience alone can validate a proposed theory or teaching, hence it will be forthcoming depending on our need. Consequently, we readily accept that which we have already experienced to be true. Otherwise, we just have to wait for the necessary validation. But provided a student persists, in time, he will be able to find all the proofs he needs.

Through the development of his mediumship or by availing of the mediumship of others, anyone can obtain valuable insights and incontrovertible proofs. Mediumship is the facility that allows us to bridge the barrier between our world and the next. And it involves the employment of the faculties of clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, astral travel, telepathy, automatic writing, trance mediumship, healing and others. Still more than these, many earnest students experience intuitive remembrances and past life recollections that serve as their undeniable confirmation of the spiritual teachings.

We believe in the saying that if you give a man fish, he will be able to eat for a day. However, if you teach him to fish, then he will be able to eat everyday. Similarly at INNER QUEST, we teach the principles of life. Those who abide by the principles ensure their future success. In following the divine laws, we gain everything our hearts desire.

Over the years, so much of the New Teachings have been entrusted to us, not for our benefit alone, but for others, as well. It is our pleasure then to share them with you, today.

1 You may access and download any of our web pages and freely disseminate them provided you acknowledge us as the source.

2 You may email us for free clarification and consultation regarding any of our subjects.

3 And for the more serious students, both this Advanced Course and the Basic Course 'The Message Made Plain' are available free of all costs.

Finally, it is important to realize that INNER QUEST can only plant the seeds of Truth. The student alone has the power to accept or reject what the Holy Spirit offers him. He must first open up his mind and heart to the New Teachings. He himself must exert the necessary efforts. He must overcome every obstacle that comes his way and pass his necessary trials. He must avail of the opportunities that present themselves to him and apply what he is learning in his daily life. Only then can he nurture the seed. Only then can the seed germinate, grow and bear much fruit in this life and in his future incarnations.

Patrons and Friends

Ask not what GOD can do for you. Ask rather how you can help and serve your brothers! Only as we help others do we help ourselves.

Continuing Education

To pursue your further development, you can most certainly continue to serve as a member of your chosen church or organization. You may also undertake supplementary studies with other schools and there serve. You may also serve with us, while maintaining an active membership in your other groups. Wherever, follow your heart and go where the Spirit leads you. Nevertheless, bear in mind that knowledge not applied is useless. Therefore, your active participation in any aspect of the Lord’s work by whichever group you choose is still required and it will serve as the necessary practical component that completes your studies.

No one ever journeys through life alone. Everyone at some time helps someone and in return is helped by others. So too INNER QUEST. Without you, there is very little that we can do, but together, we can do a whole lot more. This is as God intended. We have need for all kinds of committed and dedicated workers to assist us in our work. In preparing for the coming of the Lord and the New Age, there is much we have been tasked to do. It is in the doing of it, in the performance of our assigned duties, that we stand to gain everything spiritual.

We welcome those who wish to pursue continuing advanced studies with us or feel called to join us in our work. Upon your application and our subsequent approval of your application, those who are interested will be invited to form smaller completely autonomous study groups or centers and the core group of the service units that we envision will eventually comprise the INNER QUEST volunteer workforce. Applicants who may not immediately be accommodated in the current programs may, nonetheless, continue to avail of our Free Services, while waiting to be called to greater service at a later date.

The Internet not affected by geography, the applicants may choose to join a particular center based on their similarities in objectives, interests, abilities, talents, age, other preferences, or other criteria. Inasmuch as everyone has many different talents and interests, membership shall not be restricted to any one particular center. Every member shall be free to associate and join with any other center or service team should his personal circumstances and qualifications warrant it. Based on our experience, this should enhance the continued effectiveness and harmonious operation of all the centers.

From the INNER QUEST Databank, potential planners, managers and finance/administration officers shall be the first to be activated. After the necessary initial plans are firmed up, the core members of the proposed centers can then proceed to recruit their membership, preferably by first drawing from the same Databank, but they may also recruit from outside it. Each center so formed shall then elect its own officers and team leaders and plan the course of its own work and continued studies under the guidance and supervision of the Spirits of Truth.

For its part, INNER QUEST can support, assist, clarify and advise. However, the center members will be regarded and treated as advanced students, who are mature and responsible individuals. Advanced students are not "told" what to do. And neither will they be compelled to do anything that they do not want to do. The greater credit lies in the free exercise of our own initiatives.

To begin the process, we invite you to accomplish an Information Sheet which you should then email back to us for its inclusion in our Databank and our appropriate disposition.

According to your efforts, may you find the Truth that you are seeking.

I want to help you do the Lord's work.

Information Sheet

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Please copy this entire questionnaire onto an email. Enter your information and send to infosheet@innerquest.org.ph.

Personal Information

Please type in the requested information on the right

First name

Middle initial

Last name

Nickname

Email address

Nationality

Sex

Birthdate

Educational background

Occupation / Profession

Spiritual / Religious organizations

INNER QUEST Studies completed

Please answer Yes or No

Message made plain

Secrets of the Kingdom

WORK-RELATED INFORMATION

I commit myself to follow the Lord, to love and serve my brothers. And I hereby make myself available to support the work of INNER QUEST in the following ways:

I wish to volunteer my professional services in the areas I have marked Y after the named service below:

Planning and research
Management and project management

Finance and administration

Marketing and promotions

Office systems and computer

Legal and government requirements

Secretariat and support services

Education and dissemination

Radio, TV and print

Internet and film

Arts, music and recording

Healing, medical and dental

I am open to rendering financial support or assistance to INNER QUEST as indicated below:

Voluntary spot donations

Regular or periodic donations

Tithes

Project financing - these amounts are to be utilized only for recommended INNER QUEST projects and are returnable with or without interest or participation income depending on the project guidelines

The INNER QUEST Email and Discussion Group

(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/innerquest)

Free and open discussions on all matters spiritual with a view to deepening our understanding of the meaning of life and enabling us to evolve a more practical way of living life here on earth. Especially for those who seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit or the Spirits of Truth in continuance of their spiritual education and development.

This email group will also serve as our primary communication link so that everyone may be kept informed and updated. Everyone then who submits this Infosheet will be automatically subscribed to this group.