INDEX This 13th printing is published only by Lucis Publishing Co. It includes all seven lectures given by Mrs. Bailey as well as an index of key topics covered in the book.
Seven lectures given by Alice Bailey are brought together in this book of seven chapters under the
In these chapters the scientific relation of matter and consciousness is discussed as evolution progressively affects the atomic substance of all forms, subjective and objective. The purpose of the lectures was to present "the testimony of science" to this relationship and "to enable the hearers to observe the identical manifestation of these relations and of certain basic laws in successively higher states of being, thus to bring a realisation of the universality of the evolutionary process and its actuality." They serve as an introduction to the more detailed study and application of the laws of life and human unfoldment generally included in the term "occultism". Much progress has been made during this century in atomic science and in man's knowledge of the structure of the universe, the constitution of man, and the relation between the two. This book provides an intelligible basis to the occultist for a study of consciousness in depth and in right relation to the life pattern of the universe. The "atom" emerges as a minute but complete replica of the energy structure common to all forms of life--cosmic, planetary, human and subhuman. Groupings and relationships are shown as they exist on a small and on a vast scale within the evolutionary process, and the effects of energy interplay on the whole structure of consciousness. The teachings and sayings of the Christ are quoted to cement the inescapable link between the scientific and the philosophical, or religious aspects of divinity. Each divine principle can be expressed in terms which relate to any human attribute or activity. Here is the synthesis of life in form.
Pease note: this is a different author from Alice Bailey.
Alice A. Bailey (1880-1949) was an English esoteric practitioner and writer. At the age of 35, she entered the Theosophical Society center in Los Angeles (USA), at the Pacific Grove Theosophical Lodge. In 1919, Bailey (39 years old) severed her ties to the Theosophical Society and began to write texts that he claimed were dictated telepathically by a certain "Tibetan," or "D. K. ». She published those texts under the title Human and Solar Initiation. There she made known the existence of the spiritual hierarchy, which Madame Blavatsky had already spread, although not in an orderly way. She later revealed that the Tibetan D.K. was the master Djwal Khul. She wrote using the teacher's name for 30 years, from 1919 until her death in 1949.
In this fairly short typescript of a series of lectures published in 1942, Alice Bailey guides the reader step by step through her Theosophist theory based on contemporary scientific discoveries regarding the atom, philosophy and both Eastern and Western religions, applying what is known about the atom to the cosmos, the solar system and to humankind.
The writing is clear and understandable, the early lectures only gently referring to Christianity in an open way - i.e. God is not definitely defined as existing in the biblical sense, but as a force of energy. But as the lectures progress, an evangelical tone seems to creep in and 'the Christ' is mentioned more and more frequently, the author's belief seemingly that he is actually alive and well and will appear in the flesh when the time is appropriate.
The final lecture imagines the further evolution of humankind.
An interesting read that I might have given five stars were it not for the reliance on Old and New Testament text in the final chapters.
Remarkable lectures regarding evolution. The components of idealism, supernaturalism and realism more commonly, materialistic items which are tangible as opposed to idealism a higher consciousness which is not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Honestly, I did not finish this book. Alice Bailey sets forth in a series of seven lectures the notion that all entities, even those we don't consider to be "living", have an intelligence or consciousness. It is interesting that a woman who spoke of this seemingly 1970's New Age concept back in 1922 but the transcribed talks are a little dry and very dense. I'm not sure I will go back to the book since, beyond the 2nd or 3rd lecture, I had an over-all sense of the overriding concept Bailey was introducing to her listeners and so lost the ability to absorb anything she was attempting to articulate.
This book was recommended to me by my new agey stuff mentor as she had read it several years ago and it sent her on her current spiritual path. Crazy that these lectures were from the 1920s. It's a short book, but I didn't find it to be a quick read. There was a lot of information to absorb into my brain.
Meh. Gets hokey fast. The first few pages got me interested and so I kept on reading, then it all started going off the rails. If new age mysticism and pseudo pop psychology is your cup of tea... well drink up. Not for me.
Une grosse perte de temps, j'étais plutôt bien partie au début bien que ça sentait le New Age à distance, mais je lui est quand même accordé le bénéfice du doute, c'est bien dommage car ça fait longtemps que les discours sectaires n'ont plus aucun effet sur moi, l'auteur ne m'a pas impressionné avec ces idées pseudos scientifiques ( impliquer la science dans des sujets ésotériques c'est vraiment le bordel! ), heureusement qu'il ne faisait que 85 pages! bref, who next ?!
An interests perspective I guess. I don't want to bash the author's opinion. So, I'll just say it was worth the read if not only to see another perspective. Not quite what I was expecting when I purchased this, but okay the......