The United Nations and the initiation of humanity

II. Initiation of Humanity

In the far distant future, as awesome as it sounds, it is expected that humanity as a whole will bring about changes and events in the solar system and even induce interstellar activity.

In the esoteric teachings we are told that humanity is the keynote of the Lord of the World. Humanity is the basis, the goal and the essential inner structure of all being. Humanity itself is the key to all evolutionary processes and to all correct understanding of the divine Plan, expressing in time and space the divine Purpose of Sanat Kumara. All the planetary centres are constituted of lives progressing towards the human stage, and those who have left that stage far behind are yet endowed with all the faculties and all the knowledge wrought out into human expression in earlier planetary schemes or through our own planetary life.

Because They share a common humanity, the great and omnipotent Lives in Shamballa can impress the omniscient Lives and lesser lives in the Hierarchy of Love-Wisdom. Because of shared experience and understanding the hierarchical Masters and Initiates can consequently impress humanity. And, in turn, because of shared instinctual tendencies and the potential assets in the three subhuman groups, humanity can and does impress these kingdoms.

It is here interesting to note the Tibetan Master's remark that the intended keynote of the Gospel story was meant to emphasize both the human and divine nature of the Christ, relating Him to the Father (Sanat Kumara in Shamballa) through his essential divinity and also to the human being through His essential humanity. It was not intended that The Christ would be portrayed as unique and set apart from humanity. Rather, being the Eldest of our Earth humanity, He paved the way for others to do, as He said, "greater things" even than He did.

The theme of this conference² alerts us to the fact that this year-as every 49-year period-is a time of decision for the Masters of the sixth degree. As These Great Masters, under the suggestion of the Christ, prepare for Their expansion of consciousness and Their next field of work, so they bring their focus to bear on planetary conditions in order to make Their enlightened decisions about how best to hasten the evolution of Life. Although we cannot know the exact nature of Their Decisions, we do know that They will act to catalyze the imminent externalization of the Hierarchy and the Reappearance of the Christ-the World Spiritual Teacher. For these Initiates form a protecting wall around the Christ and are greatly involved in the externalization and reappearance process.

We also know that Their decisions will inevitably create increased and far-ranging crises for humanity. For such is ever the result of the unleashing or application of spiritual energies. The light ever draws forth the shadows or that which is not of the light. The potent spiritual energies ever burn up in the fires of destruction all that which would impede the free flow of that energy. The dross, which would limit and distort the new possibilities, must be brought forward so that it can be known and then eliminated.

Crises, as we know from our own direct experience, serve as great spiritual opportunities, challenging us to move ever closer to our own inner divinity. Thus, the pending intensification of planetary crises will serve to test and prepare humanity for the unprecedented and imminent opportunity in which millions may tread the path of initiation.

We are told in fact, that this is one of the reasons why the Christ must reappear at this time. For it is He who officiates at the first two initiations, which once again-as in Old Atlantis-will be openly commemorated on the physical plane.

However, this can only happen if the struggling fourth, human kingdom avails itself of the opportunity. For, as the esoteric wisdom tells us, and as we can imagine, initiation is a process of excessively hard work, constant effort and strenuous mental and spiritual living. Yet, the incentive of freedom provides an undeniable, propelling force. The Path of Initiation IS the Path of Liberation. And, it is liberation or freedom from the limitations of matter that initiation confers.

If we consider the historical and ongoing arduous struggles for increased freedom and justice on our planet, and if we think about our own hard won battles to free ourselves from some form of maya, glamour or illusion, we can appreciate the fact that liberation or initiation comes not easily.

Making his or her way through the darkness and coarseness of the enveloping matter, humanity's long journey is full of pain, suffering and often blind struggle, yet the tiny spark of light within the relative darkness of the lower nature persists and waxes increasingly brighter, promising a better future.

All of humanity to one degree or another, either consciously or unconsciously, is involved in this fundamental struggle to attain the freedom whereby the Soul and its powers can unfold.

The first initiation, for example, provides freedom from the control of the physical body and its appetites. The second initiation provides freedom from the control of the emotional nature and the selfish sensitivity of the lower self. The third initiation provides freedom from the ancient authority of the threefold personality, and so on.

It was the Buddha who many long years ago gave us the method or techniques by which these freedoms can be attained. He taught the practice of Detachment, Dispassion and Discrimination as well as the strict Discipline, which enforces and makes possible the work required. These techniques allow the individual to arrive at his or her self-prescribed goal.

What is it that ultimately and finally propels the individual forward? It is only as a series of disillusionments are experienced and comprehended, that the individual realizes there is no choice but to move forward into greater light. Thus, step by step we are able to leave behind the darkness for the light, the unreal for the real and we thus move from "death to immortality."

Given the current state of planetary, local and individual affairs, has humanity reached this point of disillusionment? Is humanity prepared to let go of the materialistic, selfish and separative attitudes that are responsible for the misery, the suffering and the problems of our modern life? Can humanity avail itself of the opportunity of this Aquarian Age to create a better civilization based on spiritual principles and values basic to the general welfare of all the people? Can they embrace such principles and values as universal goodwill, justice, cooperation, love and unity? I will leave the answers to these questions to your individual assessments and of course, to time-which ultimately will provide the indisputable answer.

III. The United Nations and the Liberation of Humanity

Turning now to the role of the United Nations, you may be wondering, what part does this organization play in the liberation of humanity? What part can this organization play in moving humanity forward on the Path of Initiation? The answer is quite a lot. The United Nations is not lightly or casually referred to as humanity's most far-sighted and significant undertaking.

In the Rays and the Initiations, the Tibetan Master mentions that one of the most spiritually exciting things taking place in the world today is the use, in every country, of the word FREEDOM. It was that great first ray disciple, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who "anchored" this word in a new and more universal sense so that today it has a fuller and deeper meaning to humanity.

As most of you here know, it was President Roosevelt who played a major part in the founding of the United Nations. Both the Charter of the United Nations as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are based on the Four Freedoms first pronounced by President Roosevelt to the Congress of the United States on January 6, 1941. This dedicated disciple proclaimed the essential need and right of every citizen of the world to freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear.

In his presentation of these freedoms, he elaborated on the third and fourth freedoms:

The freedom from want means economic practices which will secure every nation a healthy peacetime life for its citizens.

The freedom from fear means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be able to aggressively attack any of its neighbors.

It was just fifty-six years ago that the United Nations, the organization which the Tibetan Master refers to as "the hope of humanity" was conceived-under the impulse, by the way, of the three spiritual Festivals of 1945. (That year the Festivals fell on March 28th, April 27th and May 26th.)

On April 25, 1945 two days previous to the Festival of Wesak delegates from 50 nations, met in San Francisco for a conference known officially as the United Nations Conference on International Organization.

Appalled at the atrocities they had witnessed and the hell they had undergone, the mission of these delegates was to create an organization that would forever end the scourge of war and serve as a mechanism for future peace.

Of this period the Tibetan Master tells us: "Not for nothing is this conference being held during the five days of the Wesak Full Moon. It will be a time of supreme difficulty, in which the Forces of Light will face...'the forces of selfishness and separativeness.'" (The Externalisation of the Hierarchy)

The Hierarchy kept a keen vigilance over the events of this period and especially over the conference in San Francisco, which was of such significance that it called forth the attention of those great lives in Shamballa. We are told that a supreme effort was made from April 25th to April 30th and a great Triangle of Force was created by Sanat Kumara, the Buddha and the Christ-this as the nucleus through which the Forces of Enlightenment could work.

For almost nine weeks the International Conference went on-nine weeks of intensive conflict, debate and discussion; nine weeks of intensive work, day and night, by hundreds of delegates, advisors, translators, and more; and, at the end, the mission was accomplished. The final version of the 10,000-word Charter of the United Nations was approved and passed unanimously late in the evening of June 25th. Four months later, on October 24th, after the necessary signatures, the United Nations officially came into existence.

Uncertainty about the outcome of the conference gripped both the Center of Light and the Center of Love: could the little wills of men and women and the love-wisdom of the Hierarchy be aligned with the purpose of Shamballa? Would the disciples of the world and the members of the new group of world servers be able to call forth the will-to-good sufficiently so that the Forces of Light would predominate? Would the energy of goodwill swell within the hearts of men and women so as to significantly impact public opinion?

The precarious, touch and go nature of the event is well documented. It was finally the addition of the Aquarian concept, "We the people" to the preamble of the Charter that finally turned things around. From then on, one U.S. delegate reports, "progress in our work and in public opinion accelerated to the point where all 50 delegations agreed unanimously and signed [the charter] on June 26." (Harold Stassen, New Realities Conference, United Nations, 1993)

So it was that divine purpose was able to guide the little wills of men.

Fifty-six years into its existence, what can we say about the working out of that purpose through the UN today? I'm reminded here of a passage from the first volume of the Agni Yoga book,Supermundane, wherein Master Morya refers to the ceaseless Battle the Hierarchy leads against the forces of darkness. Therein he says: "We may receive communications that a conspiracy against constructiveness has developed and We hasten to prevent it, but you yourself know how few listen to Us."(45)

So it seems to me is the plight of the United Nations today: such a good and true vision and so much potential and yet constrained and limited by the forces of ignorance and the forces of darkness.

From the outset it was hoped that this great "experiment"-as the Tibetan Master refers to it-would bring about the liberation of humanity into a new era of peace, justice and cooperation. It was hoped that the United Nations would demonstrate the potency of such spiritual values as practical love and understanding by insuring that all people everywhere would be free from aggression and oppressive totalitarianism. It was hoped that under the auspices of this world organization the basic needs of all for food, housing, education and health care would be met. This, through the collective sharing of the physical, economic and cultural resources of the planet.

Through the General Assembly of the United Nations, under the influence of the Avatar of Synthesis and the Forces of Reconstruction it was hoped that the theory of unity could slowly be turned into practice, and that the word "United" could come to have a true significance and meaning.

We are told that when the United Nations has emerged into factual and actual power, the welfare of the world will then be assured. The particular genius of each nation within the United Nations can then be evoked for the enriching of the entire human family and human brotherhood can become a realized fact.

The United Nations focuses the planetary conflict between the Angel and the Dweller. Has it been successful in throwing the weight of its efforts and aspiration on to the side of the Angel? Has it been successful in promoting the good of the entire family of nations and the welfare of the whole humanity? Has it ensured the collective sharing of the resources of the entire planet so that there is freedom from want and freedom from fear?

Although some progress in these areas has been made, certainly the hopes of "we the people" have not been realized. The United Nations, which was meant to restore the balance that was lost in Old Atlantis, has not accomplished its mission. And, thus, humanity is yet immersed in illusion, glamour and maya; and thus, humanity continues to experience war and deprivation, fear and anguished suffering.

At the time of the International Conference in 1945, The Tibetan Master emphasized how essential it was for all aspirants and disciples to throw the weight of their spiritual development and the light of their souls on the side of the Forces which were planning for the good of humanity as a whole. That same resounding need exists today.

Eleanor Roosevelt reminded the public of her day that "The United Nations is a piece of machinery and the people of the world must make it work".

And, so it is. If the United Nations is to accomplish its specified goals, which would mean the transformation of life on our planet, it needs the help of the esoteric community. It needs our help.

Here, I wish to mention that a small and growing international group of us are throwing the weight of our spiritual development and the light of our souls in support of this beleaguered organization. Weekly, every Friday, in our respective countries, states and cities, we meditate on the "Spiritual Work of the United Nations and the Liberation of Humanity." We have held several public programs within the United Nations, emphasizing the spiritual nature of this organization and we hold monthly public meditation meetings around the time of the full moon. Also, at the upcoming Aries full moon we are hosting a roundtable at the New York Theosophical Society emphasizing the existing interrelationship between the health and vitality of this organization, the reappearance of the Christ and the world-wide esoteric community.

We invite anyone here who is interested, to please join us in this effort and to request a copy of the meditation outline³ so that you may join with us.

Another international group is also using meditation to support the "UN Days and Years." For information about this group endeavour, please write to United Nations Days & Years Meditation Initiative, FOCUS GROUP, PO Box 58. Paekakariki, New Zealand or e-mail Steve Nation at: sjnation@paradise.net.nz.

This brings us to the final part of my talk: the role of the worldwide esoteric community.