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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