Problems of Humanity

The text of this book was first published in pamphlet form immediately after the war. It was intended to show the acute problems existing in seven main areas of human life following the devastating experience of global warfare. It is realised that the problems themselves had existed in a more or less inconspicuous form and with increasing effect on human society for numbers of year. The war served to precipitate incipient causes of disruption in human relationships and to reveal unacknowledged depths of evil and ignorance. The present paperback edition of "Problems of Humanity", published in 1964, is revised and edited to eliminate all out-of-date facts and information. Six basic problems continue, however, to confront humanity with opportunity for progress: the psychological rehabilitation of the nations; the problem of the children of the world; the problem of capital, labour and employment; the problem of the racial minorities; the problem of the churches; the problem of international unity and the equitable distribution of the world's resources. From these many other social and economic problems arise, essentially resulting from growth in human consciousness and progress in many underprivileged countries and communities towards freedom, equality and interdependence in a modern world. The basic teaching on these human problems contained in the original pamphlets has been preserved without change. A perspective is shown here which relates the spiritual potential and subjective factors to the outer appearance of human affairs. Continuing cleavages in consciousness; psychological evaluations and reactions to world conditions; national, religious, class or racial prejudice; conditions of illiteracy, disease and poverty, and economic imbalance, are all responsible for creating and perpetuating conditions in which war is inevitable. Recognition of causes within these problems, however, provides opportunity to those who love and serve their fellowmen. To deal with effects with understanding, compassion and intelligence, the first prerequisite is the ability for clear, unbiased thought - a form of meditative focus - so helping to create the "thoughtform of solution". All men and women of goodwill are concerned with the solution of these problems. They are particularly the concern of those accepting the self-discipline of training for discipleship in the new age, those world servers capable of relating esoteric truths and spiritual realities to the field of service in which they are placed. The esotericist of today is a practical worker. His illumined consciousness makes available to him a source of energy supply which is inexhaustible and which originates within the circulating energy of the One Life. He thus becomes a centre of energy transmission between Hierarchy and humanity, reflecting the soul, or Christ principle, throughout his service environment, illuminating and lifting the darkened areas of human consciousness. His knowledge of world affairs and human problems helps him to direct his energies where they can be of most service to the plan for man, and in the restoration of all relationships. "To put it scientifically and from the esoteric angle: spiritual impression has been interrupted and there has been interference with the divine circulatory flow. It is the task of disciples of the world to restore this flow and to stop this interference. This is the major problem facing spiritual people at this time."

Table of Contents:
The Psychological Rehabilitation of the Nations The Problem of the Children of the World The Problem of Capital, Labour and Employment The Problem of the Racial Minorities The Problem of the Churches The Problem of International Unity Index

About the Author :
Alice A. Bailey (1880 - 1949) From her conservative British background, Alice Baileys 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.

Review :
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."