Externalization of the Hierarchy

*The books of Alice A. Bailey, written in cooperation with a Tibetan teacher between 1919-1949, constitute a continuation of the Ageless Wisdom--a body of esoteric teaching handed down from ancient times in a form which is always suitable to each period. Intended to precede and condition the coming era, the Alice A. Bailey writings offer an unparalleled spiritual approach to such subjects as the teaching on Shamballa and the Path of spiritual evolution; the spiritual Hierarchy; the new discipleship and training in meditation as a form of service; the teaching on the seven rays and the new psychology of the soul; the teaching on esoteric astrology; and the new world religion, which emphasizes the common thread of truth linking all the major world faiths. The subject of human free will has always contrived to set men's mental teeth on edge. The fatalist automatically resigns himself to whatever befalls him, seeing in effects no cause attributable to his own action - or inaction; but resigned always to the working of an inexorable fate. The Christian counterpart tends to accept his lot as the working of God's Will in which he has no say or part.At the other extreme stands the rebellious independent, determined to exercise his right to free, self-willed action. This book, as one of its many values, shows the extent to which Hierarchy and other centres of life on the planet are dependent upon the unpredictable and often irresponsible factor of human free will. During the years leading up to the outbreak of World War II, every opportunity and every possible spiritual stimulation was offered to humanity in an effort to avoid precipitation of conflict on to the physical plane. Disciples and aspirants to discipleship were asked to give special cooperation to the Hierarchy, and to make an all-out effort to provide adequate leadership to human thought and decision. All were left free, however, to determine their own limits, if any, and to decide their own actions. According to law, the Hierarchy - even at danger point - could not infringe human free will and dictate or impose a course of action based on their own deeper knowledge and more profound insight. Many of the spiritual factors surrounding the period of human history from 1919 to 1949 are presented in this book.The energies at work behind the world scene are shown; and the identity revealed of certain great Beings magnetically attracted in service towards this planet at a climaxing moment in the evolution of our planetary life. These factors are an aid to our understanding of the interrelated energy patterns within the universe which operate according to law. But essentially they provide the esotericist with knowledge of available energy flow responding to planetary purpose and plan which can be contacted and given conscious and intelligent cooperation, particularly by those in whom the selfish, self-centred will has been transcended so that the spiritual will can be given more adequate expression. Some of these energy factors are particularly clear in the special "Messages" given over a period of many years at the time of the Festivals of Easter, Wesak and the Christ. Many aspects of Hierarchical work, thought and planning are discussed in these Messages, with the Hierarchical effect shown of planetary evolution and initiation and its reflection into humanity.This achieved a climax at the time of the three Festivals in 1945, when a momentous decision was taken involving, among other results, the eventual externalisation of the Hierarchy and the reappearance of the Christ. The final section of the book discusses the "Stages in the Externalisation of the Hierarchy". It is often difficult for the human mind to imagine the problems facing those liberated from the restrictions of form. It is even more difficult to contemplate the effects in those so liberated of a free choice to reassume such a limitation. So we are helped to understand what the interdependence of life on this planet really signifies in terms of love, sacrifice and service by the part to the needs of the whole.

Table of Contents:
*Introductory Remarks: The Period of Transition. The Present Urgency. A Challenging Opportunity. Seed Groups in the New Age. The Work of the Seed Groups. The Immediate Task The General World Picture: The Causes of the World Difficulty. The Hidden Source of the Outer Turmoil. The Spiritual Trend of Human Destiny. Conflict Between Forces of Ancient Origin. The World Crisis. The Great Invocation-Stanza. One Call to a United Act of Service. The coming World Order. The World Crisis from Hierarchical Viewpoint. The World Crisis Today. The Great Invocation-Stanza. Two Forces Behind the Evolutionary Progress of the Race: The Doctrine of Avatars. The Work of Reconstruction. Practical Steps in the Reconstruction Work. Preparation for Future Activity and Work An Impending Crucial Decision. The Only Way to Victory. The Significance of the Wesak Festival. The Cause of the World Catastrophe. The Interlude Between War and Peace. An Imminent Spiritual Event. A Special Wesak Festival Message. The New World Religion Factors in the World Situation. The Task of Implementing the Will-to-Good. The Cycle of Conferences. An Easter Message..The Great Invocation-Stanza. Three Stages in the Externalisation of the Hierarchy: The Subjective Basis of the New World Religion. The Externalisation of the Ashrams. Hierarchical Preparation at the Wesak Festival. The Return of the Christ. Preparation for the Return of the Christ. Work in the Coming Decades. The Ashrams Concerned at the Coming. Organising the Ashrams into Form on Earth. The Effects of Externalisation. Ashramic Adjustment to Exoteric Living.

About the Author :
*Alice A. Bailey, (1880-1949) From her conservative British background, Alice Bailey's life led her in many directions, but always in one direction--towards the time when through drastic personal experience of many kinds she had acquired a synthesis of outlook and understanding, and an absolute conviction that one divine life pervades and animates the one humanity; that the Plan for humanity requires the cooperation and service of trained and dedicated human beings intelligently informed about world affairs, in collaboration with those who form the spiritual Hierarchy, the inner government of the planet. Her life work became an integral part of this synthesis and this realization. Without in the least losing any of her very human qualities and involvement, her soul took up its commitment to her Master,and her personality provided full cooperation in the field of her accepted service. Basically her work developed as a duality--her discipleship service which included the establishment of an esoteric school; and her initially reluctant agreement to work with the Tibetan, Djwhal Khul, in the writing of a series of books presenting the next phase in the continuity of the Ageless Wisdom teaching for the present and the immediate future. An extract from the Tibetan teacher, written in 1934 briefly explains the intent of these teachings: "The books that I have written are sent out with no claim for their acceptance. They may, or may not, be correct, true and useful. It is for you to ascertain their truth by right practice and by the exercise of the intuition. Neither I nor A.A.B. is the least interested in having them acclaimed as inspired writing, or in having anyone speak of them (with bated breath) as being the work of one of the masters. If they present truth in such a way that it follows sequentially upon that already offered in the world teachings, if the information given raises the aspiration and the will-to-serve from the plane of the emotions to that of the mind (the plane whereon the Masters can be found) then they will have served their purpose. If the teaching conveyed calls forth a response from the illumined mind of the worker in the world, and brings a flashing forth of the intuition, then let that teaching be accepted. But not otherwise. If the statements meet with eventual corroboration, or are deemed true under the test of the Law of Correspondences, then that is well and good. But should this not be so, let not the student accept what is said."