In 'At the feet of the Master', we are forewarned: "There are in the world many untrue thoughts, many foolish superstitions and no one who is enslaved by them can make progress. Therefore, you must not hold a thought just because many other people hold it, not because it has been believed for centuries nor because it is written in some book which men think sacred; you must think of the matter for yourself, and judge for yourself whether it is reasonable. He who walks the Path must learn to think for himself, for superstition is one of the greatest evils in the world, one of the fetters from which you must utterly free yourself."
No one being perfect, it follows that no single source or school can ever completely cover every aspect of the divine teachings. No source of information in our world is ever completely true and accurate, either. There are many falsehoods and half-truths mixed in along with the true. Nevertheless, some sources are more reliable than others. It is for each of us to discern for ourselves.
In the search for Truth, we are to analyze, test and question everything. The basic rule is to accept only those propositions that we find to be reasonable and test true in light of our own personal experiences and to reject all that do not.
INNER QUEST is just one 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.
Here below are a selected few of the more important and representative studies and groups that take up various other aspects of the New Divine Teachings. Whatever your sentiments and preferences, you should be able to find what you are looking for in the list below. It is our hope that they can assist you in your own quest for deeper understanding and knowledge of the Truth.
We are now well into the beginning of the New Age. And today, New Age ideas pervade the movies and television.
1. Kingdom of Heaven - The evils of ignorance and superstition. The folly of Crusades and Jihads. The true meaning of religion.
2. The Devil's Advocate - Reincarnation. Knowing our self and recognizing our faults and weaknesses. Removing our imperfections one at a time.
3. Groundhog Day - Reincarnation. Continuous opportunities until we finally get it right in the end.
4. Chances Are - Reincarnation. Some relationships in a past life continue into the next. Unfinished business must all be concluded.
5. Crash - Group Karma - Causes and effects that enable us to learn through our interaction with others. God makes everything to work for good.
6. Noel - Group Karma - Our every action affects and influences everyone that we meet. Our inter-connectedness with everyone else.
7. Ghost - Love transcends all barriers, even death.
8. Hearts and Souls - Everyone is given a mission to accomplish. Completing unfinished lessons.
9. The Sixth Sense - The reality of the World of Spirit. Communication with the dead is real.
10. Stir of Echoes - There is no escaping God's justice. Nothing can be hidden. The Truth will always come out.
11. The Exorcism of Emily Rose - A warning to all. There will be hell to pay for those who commit wrongs or live a life of errors.
12. One Step Beyond - If you can remember. One of the early TV hit series on clairvoyance and premonition.
13. Crossing Over with John Edwards - Helping those left behind with comforting messages from Beyond.
14. Medium - A psychic assists in criminal investigations. Based on true to life experiences.
15. Ghost Whisperer - Helping the earthbound to transition to the Spirit World, our True Home.
16. Psychic Detectives - A documentary series. The true stories of psychics who have helped police solve crimes.
17. Superman - The original and consummate ET. The super-hero who uses his powers for good. A fine example to emulate. The "impossibility" of someone being an alien from space has been laid aside.
18. Star Trek, Alien, Predator, War of the Worlds and Star Wars - ETs and Federations of Worlds. Our lessons remain essentially the same. Some approach the subject with a positive bias while others prefer to focus on the negative. But good or bad, the great opportunities to grow and learn are made possible through our interaction with one another.
19. Men in Black - Different life forms, friendly and not so friendly all living together in the World of Tomorrow. These types of stories are now commonplace and familiar. No one bats an eye.
20. Stargate 1994 and Troy - All myths have their basis in truth. Atlantis and Lemuria are legends based on true stories from the past. The Greek, Roman and Egyptian gods basing from some occult sources were aliens from other planets. In like manner that advanced civilizations on earth colonized less civilized natives elsewhere, so have the "gods" from outer space come here to colonize, some say exploit, and help us.
21. The Matrix - The illusion that is our world so say the mystics. A hidden but clear message to those spiritually aware.
22. X-Men and Heroes - Different forms of higher powers are now made available to most everyone to some limited degree. They are previews of things to come. The next higher stage in our development commences.
23. Six Feet Under - There is the veiled suggestion that life continues and that the departed still exert an influence upon those living. Now, everyone talks to the dead.
24. The X-Files - Although fiction, the series deals with supernatural subjects, even if the questions remain unanswered.
What other movies or TV programs that deal with New Age principles have you watched? What was its special message to you?
Jesus said: "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)
Speaking plainly, therefore, we should better first clear up the mystery of the Holy Spirit. It is simple, really, but veiled from the eyes of the profane since long ago. The Holy Spirit is a spirit entity that is already holy.
Holy Spirits - Pure Spirits From: The Spirits' Book
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.
To all those who seek to know the Truth, the guidance is available. But we must first meet certain minimum requirements to merit instruction by the Holy Spirits.
Qualifications of Students
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.
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.
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.
Impediments to Learning
Further, before any accepted student may progress in these studies, there will be many obstacles he must also overcome:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Confusion is the beginning of learning. First, there was darkness before there was light. All should come to the realization of the need to search for truth. Life is a perpetual search for perfection. Everyone should strive and continue to strive. No one should ever be content, because there is no end to learning. Everyday, each one is being provided with the lessons he needs. We should be more alert to the opportunities provided for each of us.
No one is without lessons to learn. For there is none perfect but God. There is always room for improvement, for advancement. The Master, the student, they are one. Those who are ahead have to go back to help those who are behind so that they, too, may proceed forward. All who have learned should share with others that which they have learned. Each person has something to give. What one lacks, another should provide. Each one can gain from every other. There is light in the greatest and in the least.
These are times calling for great changes. This should now be clear to all. New teachings are being made available. This is our beginning. It is for all of us to learn and impart all that we can learn. We should listen more in order to learn more. The Spirits of Truth are always guiding us. But we have to open up our hearts and minds before we can receive. We should strive more than before to overcome all the forces that prevent our further enlightenment. We should heed the messages given to each because they are also for the benefit of all.
There is a promise in the Holy Bible - those who seek shall find.
My thoughts on John Spong's (Bishop of Newark) 12 Theses. But what are your views on this subject?
1The concept of God is too far removed from material existence, such that we really have no way of comprehending His true nature. But we will know more when we get to where He is.
2We might as well stop studying if, as is proposed, these things cannot be known, anyway. But no, the more we study, the more we learn. Still, we will come to understand more only after we complete our studies, not before or even during.
3The Biblical story of creation is the Truth couched in parable. There is some truth in it, but not everything written there is true. One veiled truth is that for us to learn what is good and evil, we will need to be born here on earth to learn our lessons and at the end of a lifetime, we will die.
4Whether the virgin birth is true or not is irrelevant and has no bearing on Christ's divinity. This is a Pagan influenced belief. But Christ is divine because his Father is. And so are we, because God is our Father, too, and Christ is our brother, except that Jesus is far more evolved than we are.
5There are no miracles as the word implies. Everything is in accordance with some universal or natural law. It is just that the level of our scientific knowledge has not yet reached the degree where we can understand its workings. Jesus did so-called miracles. But he also said, "All that I have done, you, too, can do." It follows that we will eventually be able to understand, as well.
6The view of the cross as the sacrifice for the sins of the world is a barbarian idea based on primitive concepts of God and must be dismissed. Rightly so. Instead, as we mature in the Spirit, we will learn to take responsibility for our own thoughts and deeds. No one can save us except ourselves.
7After our earthly lessons are over, we are to return home to "Heaven" which is our true home. When we were born, we clothed ourselves in flesh bodies. When we die, we simply discard the physical body and having freed ourselves from its cloying influence, we can then ascend to the Higher Planes.
8Obviously, since the Nicene Creed and all the main supporting church teachings were formulated "when the world was flat" prior to the “Age of Science and Reason,” therefore, the old teachings need to be reformulated to keep abreast of the new developments. However, despite Vatican II and the New Catechism, much of the objections and false teachings have not been addressed or resolved.
This situation sets the stage for the introduction of the New Divine Teachings for the men of the New Millennium. New explanations and teachings combining science, philosophy and the religious teachings, more rational and logical, and couched in plain and simple language are now being made available for everyone to judge based on their merits.
9Like day follows day, we will know what tomorrow brings when tomorrow comes, not before. When we have completed prerequisite studies and are ready for even higher studies, then we will be introduced to those higher principles.
10We can always pray to God asking Him favors. However, God dispenses favors irregardless of our requests. He always provides, not so much our physical needs and desires but according to the needs of our Spirit self.
11There is no question that we already have been granted eternal life. How we spend the rest of it is our dilemma. Do we want to remain here on earth, and continue to suffer and die or do we want to be with God, forever, in happiness and peace and love? Only those who approach the perfect nature and righteousness of God, our Father, can earn the right to be with Him in Heaven.
12God is Spirit. And so are we spirits, of the same essence, but not the same quality. Considerations of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation pertain only to the physical body and in no way reflect our true spiritual state of evolvement.
Just like people on earth, spirits also go to spirit school to study. Earth is just one classroom in the university that is the Cosmos. One lifetime is just as one day in class. We are all of us at different grades and levels. Those still here on earth are, in fact, at the elementary stages of learning.
The “Wisdom Teachings” of Theosophy propose that All Creation co-exist in the same space vibrating at different ranges of vibration. They divide into ascending planes and dimensions of being. These are the “many mansions” in the kingdom of God. Globes, Rounds and Root-Races correspond to the varying levels of educational attainment – from grade school on to preparatory, collegiate, masteral and doctoral. As we hurdle each level, we entitle ourselves entry into the higher planes of being – heavens and nirvanas.
In the Earth Chain, development is ongoing in the 4th Globe, 4th Round and 5th Root-Race. The Atlantean Civilization was the immediate past root-race. The Astral Plane is the next higher dimension. We are currently in the overlapping transition period where the 5th root-race will begin to die out and the 6th will begin to replace it. Hence, the confusion over the proliferation of psychic phenomena and the introduction of deeper explanations relating to the sixth sense, in addition to the previous five.
To afford everyone a truer perspective, one root-race is said to endure in our world for 8 to 11 million years. We have only just began in our spiritual development. Those among you who are interested in learning God’s Divine Plan of Evolution should take up the study of Theosophy under the guidance of the Masters belonging to the Great White Brotherhood, our elder brothers, the senior students in our school system.
But Jesus affirms, "We must be perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect." And so we shall, all of us. Eventually in time, everyone will graduate from the lessons of earth.
