Ancient Wisdom
Family
The accounts of the emergence of an ancient wisdom follow a basic format.
First, a person claims to have made direct contact in some remote place with
present masters of some ancient and mysterious system of knowledge. That person
then returns to civilization to disclose its truths. Second, the wisdom is seen
as able to be recovered through hidden texts or by a special person going into
the realm of the occult. The teachers may be humans or spirit entities.
Two main groups are the Theosophists (Blavatsky) and the Rosicrucians
(Rosencreutz). Several other groups formed based on these.
Ancient wisdom groups are modeled upon the ancient Gnostic schools rather
than contemporary churches. They offer instruction in occult truth, both theory
and practice. Skills such as claimed clairvoyance and psychokinesis are prized.
The Rosicrucians (for “Rosy Cross”) is the oldest group. Twentieth century
American Rosicrucian groups appear to draw on the Western magical tradition,
Theosophy, Freemasonry, and modern parapsychology in varying degrees. The
interaction with Theosophy has been extensive and there are many similarities.
But, while Theosophy was founded in 1875, the Rosicrucians attempt to document
their organizational continuity with the mystery-schools of the ancient
Mediterranean Basin.
The group claims that Christian Rosencreutz in the 1400s acquired wisdom
about the nature of health and disease, harmony with the All, and other wisdom.
He founded a secret fraternity of eight men who each chose a successor. The
group used “R.C.” as their seal.
Works claiming to be written by a secret fraternity of Rosicrucians appears
periodically. Other secret societies such as the Illuminati have appeared to be
connected or offshoots of this group. Contact with the Freemasons led to
influence of each by the other.
Modern Rosicrucian teachings are like those of Theosophy and Freemasonry,
and can be seen as a form of Christian gnosticism and mysticism. Transmutation,
psychic development, and meditative/yogic disciplines are stressed. Teachings
are differentiated into public teachings and those restricted to members.
Members are initiated through progressive degrees.
THEOSOPHY
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (HPB) wrote two books that have been greatly
influential in occult groups. At one point she was a spiritualist.
In the 1800s she traveled to India and contacted mahatmas (masters), persons
attuned to the divine plan. She claimed continuing mystical contact with them.
Her original society was an outgrowth of Spiritualism. She claimed that
Spiritualist phenomena were genuine, but were the work of lower astral entities.
Later she came to be more heavily influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism and
her teachings reflect those traditions. She eventually claimed to begin to
receive actual letters from the masters that would mysteriously appear in a
locked cabinet.
In her dizzying view of the true nature of reality there is an array of gods
and lesser beings who control the evolution of the world. Aiding them are the
masters, who represent them to other humans. Numerology is an important aspect
of her teaching, with 3, 7, and 10 being important. The teaching is highly
complicated, with a mixture of gods, philosophy, theorizing about the nature of
the Mind, and occult practices. There is a complex teaching on the nature and
history of the world, its evolution in the future, and the place of the human
race in the present.
Theosophy offers a number of occult practices, such as meditation and yoga.
Reincarnation is seen as the process of repeated chances to rediscover true
life.
Numerous controversies, charges of fraud, and internal dissension worked
against Theosophy and undercut its credibility. Followers led the group in
expanding her teachings and the literature of the group.
A young boy named Krishnamurti was heralded in the early 1900s as the new
Christ for a new race of humans. There was controversy and sexual charges
against a leader involving the boy. In the 1920s Krishnamurti rejected the idea
of being a messiah.
Subgroups formed throughout the life of Theosophy, but especially in its
later years.
THE ALICE BAILEY MOVEMENT
Alice La Trobe Bateman (1880-1949), reported seeing a tall stranger in a
turban enter her home and talk with her. He told her she had important future
work.
The man came to be identified as one of the masters of Theosophy, and she
joined the Society. Bateman later became a channel for another master who she
claimed dictated books through her. After controversy she left the Society but
continued presenting books.
Groups that formed based on her writing came to be called “full moon” groups. They meet for focused meditation to help further the return of a Christ to lead the world into a new evolution.
THE I AM RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT
This group was founded Guy W. Ballard (1878-1939) and his wife, Edna W.
Ballard (1886-1971). Guy Ballard had studied occult teachings and came to visit
Mt. Shasta, California, seen as the home of mystic adepts from Atlantis who
lived inside the massive volcanic structure.
During his visit he claimed to meet with a master, Saint Germain. The master
stated his task as bringing the permanent "I AM" Age of Eternal
Perfection on Earth. The Ballards were to be his human helpers and spokesmen. A
number of books followed, and there eventually were claimed to be one million
students of those teachings.
Problems came to the group in the 1940s when leaders were indicted and
convicted of mail fraud. The Supreme Court overturned the conviction on the
basis that religious groups had no obligation to prove the truth of their
claims. The Movement survived the controversy and eventually recovered and
continued to grow.
Page was last updated on 08/14/00