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Brotherhoods Teach Unobtrusively For many persons, THE ULTIMATE
FRONTIER brings the first awareness of the existence of the Brotherhoods. Ii
may come as a surprise that the Brotherhoods are instrumental in assisting
the Egoic advancement of individuals as well as being an underlying influence
in the development of societies. The methods of instruction employed and the
ways that a prospective student may gain Their attention and aid was one of
the subjects of discussion as the February question-and-answer session. According to Richard, the old adage,
“When the student is ready, the teacher appears,” aptly describes the
processes involved in establishing a teacher-student relationship with the
Brotherhoods. When an individual has become dissatisfied with himself as a
person, recognizes his dissatisfaction, and makes the effort to become
something better, assistance is immediately extended. Sincere students are
eagerly awaited by the Elder Brothers. A student beginning on the path of
Egoic advancement may not be able to perceive that the Brotherhoods have
begun his training. In strict accordance with Universal Law, members of the
Brotherhoods will never manipulate or control the events of a student’s life.
Rather, Their instruction is in the form of opportunities for beneficial
learning experiences placed alongside the path of the student at
psychologically appropriate tines. Fortunately, Their patience is such that,
though the student again and again fails to choose the opportunities
presented, or fails in benefiting from those chosen, help will be extended as
long as there is a willingness to try. The types of experiences set up for a
student are those which require thought and practice in dealing with persons
and situations to the end of balancing and maturing his personality. Although the path of Egoic
advancement is not an easy one and requires a good deal of courage and the
stamina to continually adjust upward, the ultimate rewards are very
worthwhile. As the student grows in perception, the tine comes when he begins
to recognize and relate to his instruction and to gradually feel a warm
rapport with those higher Beings who so kindly help others achieve what They
have already mastered. (02-1969) Brotherhoods’ Role as Teachers Richard
was asked to give an outline of the lesson system and progression of learning
available through The Stelle Group. Richard explained that life lessons are individually
tailored to each person by the Brotherhoods. Whatever your needs are,
whatever you have to learn or unlearn, these are the opportunities which They
can bring into your environment so that you can practice at dealing with
them. Everybody, whether or not they have ever heard of the Brotherhoods, is
assisted with learning situations in this way. According to what you do with
the situations They present, They will try to develop something further for
you to work on. This is done in such a natural way to fulfill your purposes
for having incarnated that you would never guess that without being
controlled you are being encouraged to develop from one set of attitudes to
another. A
conscious technique that one can use to advance oneself is practicing the
Great Virtues. As to a course of instruction, The Stelle Group does not have
one, although one is being developed to help prepare people for living in
Stelle and for their instruction by the Brotherhoods after Stelle is
established. Representatives of the Brotherhoods will be resident in Stelle
as teachers within a few years after the inception of the city. Richard
was asked what teaching methods the Emissaries of the Brotherhoods would use
in Stelle. He said that in addition to academic work conducted through
written correspondence Their personal relationship with students will be a
counseling role. Face-to-face lectures in a school classroom situation would
not be Their way of teaching. They would not interfere in the lives of their
students, but might under certain circumstances advise when asked for help. (04-1969) The Brother’s Teaching Methods Higher
Beings contact us only on a conscious, intellectual level. Emotional
experiences, whether felt as a result of ecstasy in meditation or when listening
to the persuasive images of an inspiring speaker, do little to advance our
soul growth. Though the warm, loving feelings which may linger after such
emotional uplifts are very pleasant, we grow Egoically only through thinking
and working hard to change ourselves. Nobody can bestow advancement upon
another through spoken words or by any other means; for to change from one
kind of person to another requires conscious effort—it never “just happens.”
If an emotionally stimulating experience prompts us to analyze our feelings,
to concentrate on our motives, and to gain insight into ourselves, then the
experience has been useful. The Brothers are interested in our development as
wise, discerning, and competent individuals, not in our becoming as puppets
who heedlessly do the bidding of others, Because the only way we can improve
our minds is through exercising them in a conscious, intellectual process, it
is on this level that the Brothers operate to help us. They see that helpful
literature is placed by our pathways, and they guide us to improved methods
and attitudes by smoothing the way for encounters with people who have
helpful information and advice. This help we are free to make full use of, or
ignore, as we choose. (08-1970) Does Stelle Have an International Outreach? There
are hundreds of schools throughout the world that are available for the
person who is reaching out for truth; but until you are dissatisfied with the
way you are or until your philosophy has failed to meet your needs, you are
not likely to reach out for something better. There is no more effective
barrier to higher information than a closed mind. Generally
speaking, the person who tries to find out the answers to why things go wrong
is the person who is having difficulties in life; whereas the person who has
things run smoothly for him rarely looks into the cause and effect of things.
“Beautiful” people who always have things roll into their laps and think it
is their due are not interested in contemplating what the problems of the
universe are or what difficulties societies are having. They are quite
self-satisfied; so they go down the drain without having moved up. The person
who is buffeted by life may try to find the reason why these undesirable
things are happening to him and why he is experiencing pain. It is an old
Hebrew saying that “He who God loves, He buffets most.” He makes them look
and question why—why are there human problems; why do people starve; why are
there wars? When you start seeking the answers to such questions, you start
to find them. But, if you do not look, you will not find them. So long as you
reach out for what the Brotherhoods provide, there is a Brother there ready
to help you, to point out the way and to give you just the words or
instructions that you need next. These words can come out of the mouth of
your boss or a fellow-worker even though he is not necessarily a member of
the Brotherhoods. Sometimes you can turn on the radio and you will be
provided just the answer you have been seeking. Or, a book or a magazine
article will fall into your hands just when you need it the most. If these
things had occurred just a month before, they would have been lost to you
because you were not ready for them. It may seem mysterious, but Brothers
never act in such a manner as to make you uncomfortable or make the hair
stand up on the back of your neck. The Brotherhoods function in as totally
natural ways as possible so that you wouldn’t detect their subtle assistance.
(09-1973) How Do the Brothers Help People Grow? Q:
I have heard you say that at times the Brothers help move along certain
situations in one’s life. Do you really mean the Brothers, or is that the
Lords of Karma? A:
The Lords of Karma are Adepts; so they’re Brothers too. They will help
people who want to grow by setting up situations in their lives in ways which
eventually should be beneficial. The majority of people do not receive this
kind of attention from the Brotherhoods simply because they have no desire to
improve themselves if it’s going to take their own efforts. Brothers never
take control of your life. They may bring opportunities alongside your path,
as it were, for you to either reject or act upon. If necessary, They offer
essentially the same type of opportunity year after year until you do
something with it. They can’t put a stumbling block in your path that you
have to deal with unless it’s some kind of karmic situation. (08-1989) How Do Brothers Know What Help a Person Needs? Q:
How are They aware of one’s being on the path to self betterment? Do they
maintain some sort of surveillance? A:
Right! They know which persons are earnestly seeking answer to: Why is the
world the way it is? Why am I here? What am I supposed to accomplish? Such are
the people who are the Brotherhoods want to help and can help. You’ve heard
the quote, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” Actually the
teachers are there all the time hoping you’re going to make that next step so
They can help you. Our questioning is a cue to Them to answer; but because
They can’t answer directly, They have to do it subtly—sometimes by arranging
a seemingly “chance” meeting with experts with whom you would have a more or
less normal way of coming in contact; or by directing you to the right
magazines, the right TV program. They have all kinds of apparently
normal-appearing subterfuges. Fortunately,
there are also everyday channels available to all, which do not require the
intervention of the Brothers. There are books and philosophical/religious
groups to lead people from wherever they are to the next higher step of
understanding and virtue. These groups don’t have to operate under the
Brotherhoods, but the Brotherhoods probably give Their approbation because
these mundane sources are each providing a level of improvement to someone.
Most of us have to follow essentially the same path to enlightenment as
step-by-step we’re able to take in new concepts and put them into practice.
Thus we might move up through a series of groups, and that seems to lead
naturally to subsequently higher stages of spiritual development.
Unfortunately, many people are locked into a religious belief structure that
admits of no such process of self-evaluation and the experimental search
which that requires.
(08-1989) |
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