DOES ONE NEED A GURU OR INSTRUCTOR???

Does one need a Guru or Instructor, particulary here in the West?

We in the West are an individualistic culture as opposed to being a collective culture like Asia and Central/South American Countries. We value independence, being left alone, and we support the nucleur family (that is just your imediate family like your mother, dad, and siblings). The concept of being involved in a traditional extended family is much less prevalant that it was let's say 100 of years ago. In our society it is OK to not know your neighbors.

Interestingly enough, thanks to the implementaion of statistics and data, the United States ranks as number one in the world in terms of drug use and depression. Delinquency among juveniles today is also a serious problem. Often, there are engaged in deliquency when they are left home alone with no one to care for them. With indepedence there is a price to be paid. We certainly are not against being independent but we also recognize that the "middle way" as discoverd by Buddha is the path to enlightment. So, we advocate being independent but at the same time collective...spirtual but not neglecting our Earthly duties in the world (which is nothing more than our reaping of past Karma and the learning of Soul lessons).

Perhaps the solution is finding a sangha, a spiritual community with the same principles and ideals. In this we find support for both our social needs, as humans, and one for our Soul, that of seeking enlightenment. Jesus Christ said, "Were there is 1 or more united in my name, there Will I Be."

The above mentioned concept is mentioned because unlike in the East where there is a strong sense of Unity, and Collectiveness, the idea of having a Guru, or Instructor, and a Sangha community who follows his teachings is more easily accepted than here in the West. It may be challenging for us Westerners to bow, or prostrate to a Guru or Instructor or to hold them highly respectable than your average citizen. In my opinion, why should these individuals not receive such respectable and commendable reverance. They have vowed to travel all over the world seeking disciples and others who they can share the Wisdom that they themselves have received from Enlightened Masters, the Sophia of the Gnostics, to give humanity the Food for the SOUL!! After all, we as humans do give other people "respect" who are involved in silly trivial matters like football players, our bosses at work who yell at their employees, corrupt politicians, etc.

Well, one may ask "how do I know that the Guru and Instructor is Enlightened?" The answer is simple through there capacity to Love Consciously, their Egolessness, there service to humanity, and their revelation of the Wisdom to all, unbiased, and freely given despite if one is with or without money. WE do say that a teacher or Guru is necessary. If it was not ....then why would Jesus Christ be a member of the Essene community receiving his preparation, why did he get baptized by John the Baptist...especially the now known discoveries of his travels to the Far East to the Buddhist Monasteries, Egypt, the Mayan temples etc. Moses, belonged to the Order of Melchizedek, which continues to exist today with an unbroken lineage given by the Rosicrucian Fraternity at Beverly Hall, through the teachings of "Magi Order" and the order of the "Aeth Priesthood." He was also trained in the Initatic schools of Eypt by the Pharohs who were enlightened. Among the Pharohs there was another order depending on their level of Soul Illumination. When we look at the Kriya teachings of Babaji there also exist a lineage and Yogananda speaks of this in his book, "Autobiography of a Yogi."

Went we studied the teachings of Master Samael Aun Weor we discovered that he learned the techniques from Krum Heller who was connected the FRA. Later the FRA united with FRC...it was intergrated with the Fraternitis Rosicrucia Crucis of which PB Randolph, Clymer, Franz Hartman, etc. were all members...united together at the Confederation of Initiates where also many other secret orders met to include Martinism, etc. Randolph was trained by another secret order, that of the "Ansaireh Brethen." The list goes on and on. Blavatsky's husband was a high degree Mason...She also received a charter from John Yarker and she affirmed that she belonged to a Brethen of the East. It is known that during this time many Western Magical Circles were affiliated with the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor."

No matter what teachings we look at we discover a lineage and prepartory stage. This may not be discovered until the passing through the inner doors or receiving the Initiations accessing the Inner teachings. The aspirants and neophytes are prepared by the Hierophants, and the Angels are prepared by the Archangels, who are prepared by the Elohims, Seraphims, etc. ....the list goes on and on since God's Wisdom is INFINITE as space.

We do affirm that there will always be a preparation and that the tools and techniques given will alwasy require a process and procedure. The techniques are revealed slowly but surely with patience. These sacred teachings are never given to the profane until they demonstrate a certain level of maturity for surely a mother will not give a child a bomb and send him off. Through such careful preparation and selection Karmic Results are avoided until the individual is mature enough or at the point where they are no longer moved by life's material possessions. IN a sense the aspirant says, "Ok, Nothing in this life is permanent, all comes and goes...everything in the end dies....I'm ready to look for something meaningful since I recongize that I too can DIE anytime. Help me God!!! "....... magically then "the Master appears!" They tread the path they have earned.

The new Era, that we are in, is the Time of Brotherhood/Sisterhood." Let us move together, strong, with one motive...the establishment of Peace on Earth. We, the children of the Light believe in ridding the world of all it's impurites through a transformation of God's will working through us. Then, will magic appear.

Ani, who transmits the Sacred Buddhist Teachings online for anyone who is interested provides the Six Categories of a Spiritual Teacher at: ani@envisionation.org (Go to "Buddhist Conduct on left side and See #3)

With Peace, Solin Sola Ra

Aceloth