The term "Great Master" typically refers to someone who has achieved exceptional skill or mastery in a particular field, especially in the arts or spiritual pursuits. It can also denote a revered figure, like a spiritual teacher, or to a work of art considered to be a masterpiece.
The term often carries connotations of profound knowledge, expertise, and a high degree of skill or wisdom. Such a "Great Master" can be a person recognized for their outstanding skill, talent, and expertise in a specific field, such as painting, music, or martial arts, or in a spiritual context such as a revered teacher or guide, someone who has attained enlightenment or a high level of spiritual understanding.
Often, many believe that the Great Masters are born with supernatural skills and that their mastery comes to them without effort. But a Master of any form will tell you that mastery takes a lot of work, work is just another name for energy so one MUST put energy into what it is they want to master, AND they must persist through all hard times, errors and perceived failures.
Buddha is often referred to as a Great Master as are a number of swamis (an honorific title reserved for those who have achieved a level of spiritual mastery). Jesus is also seen by many as embodying this concept as he provides a source of wisdom, guidance, and inspiration for others.
Most swamis and sadhus (one who embodies a life dedicated to spiritual liberation through self-discipline, detachment from the material world, and a deep focus on inner transformation) reside in India and Nepal, hence Spalding's desire to go and learn from them.
In summary, the term "Great Master" encompasses a range of meanings, from exceptional skill and mastery in various fields, to spiritual leadership, or the creation of masterpieces. Basically, a Great Master is someone who has so mastered a skill that they may effortlessly perform it, and seemingly without thought. Living life is a skill that may be mastered.
The Great Masters in this work are described as beings who demonstrate spiritual principles through seemingly miraculous feats, like walking on water and manifesting food, identifying them as Great Masters of Life which have long attracted students and followers to themselves. Spalding chronicles the scientists' experiences living with and learning from these masters over three and a half years, exploring their teachings on spiritual enlightenment and the nature of reality.
The Masters of the Far East, as we like to refer to the book series, is actually a series of six volumes.
In Volume 1 we are introduced to Master Emil and the first part of the journey of Spalding's scientific party to India to observe and record the Masters of life and their teaching.
Volume 2 continues this account with a visit to the Temple of the Great Tau Cross, referring to a rock carved temple in the shape of this well known T shape. It also explores the mystery of thought vibrations, and more.
I will pursue a slight rabbit trail here regarding the Temple of the Great Tau Cross. The Tau Cross is shaped like the Greek letter "Tau" (Τ). It has a rich history with roots in ancient cultures like Egypt where it symbolized life and resurrection. The Old Testament Book of Ezekiel in chapter 9, verse 4, God instructs a man to go through Jerusalem and mark a Tau on the foreheads of those who grieve over the city's sins. This mark signified protection from the coming destruction that will befall the unrepentant.
There is little agreement on what physical object the ankh sign originally represented, but one theory holds that its origin is related to two other signs that often appear alongside it: the was-sceptre – the forked-tail staff with a slanted T-shaped top, representing power or dominion; and the djed pillar, a column shaped device with four planes, representing stability.
There are, of course many other interpretations, but the meanings of the three symbols taken together in Ancient Egyptian are representations of live, or life (tau); stability or endurance (djed), power or energy (was). The Masters of the Far East had a great reverence for life and the Temple of the Great Tau Cross.
Volume 3 discusses the concept of Christ consciousness, the nature of cosmic energy and more. This volume shares learning to incorporate the highest level of divine thought and action into one's life.
In Volume 4 Spalding states, "we have endeavored to give the student more of the actual teachings and practices of the Masters, rather than to recite the phenomena performed by them. ... The average student is more interested in the philosophy and science which the Masters employ. It is only through such knowledge that the individual may know how to proceed in attaining his own mastership."
So volume 4 is a study text for lessons and a guide for teachers. Where volume one through three tells the story and illustrates the abilities of the Masters, Volume 4 allows for us to dig deeper into the study of the Masters.
To complete our introduction of this six volume work, Volume 5 is said to be material taken from lectures given by Spalding during the last two years of his life, and Volume 6 includes 18 articles by Spalding with questions and answers along with photos and other material from his tours. Basically these are supplementary materials for further insight.
Chapter 1 begins with the title: the Great White Brotherhood and World Peace. The idea of a Great White Brotherhood, an organization of enlightened beings guiding humanity, was first popularized in the late 18th century (1700s) by Karl von Eckartshausen. He envisioned a "Council of Light" in his book, The Cloud upon the Sanctuary, a book that explores the concept of an "inner church" composed of enlightened souls who maintain a hidden connection with divine wisdom; basically Christian mysticism veiled in hermetic code.
The concept of the Great White Brotherhood was further developed and popularized by figures like Helena P. Blavatsky and C.W. Leadbeater, with the actual phrase "Great White Brotherhood" appearing extensively in Leadbeater's 1925 book, The Masters and the Path.
The term Great White (or Light) Brotherhood is a concept referring to a spiritual hierarchy of enlightened beings who guide humanity known as Ascended Masters, some might call them angels.
Wikipedia tells us Ascended Masters are also known as Mahatmas, and are believed to be spiritually enlightened beings who were ordinary humans, and through a series of spiritual transformations, or initiations, are said to have achieved a higher state of being.
Although the terms mahatma and ascended master are often used synonymously, the Ascended Master Teachings define them differently, associating "ascended master" with a higher level of spiritual attainment, contrasting them with "Masters of Light", "Healers", or "Spiritual Masters".
The term "white" in their name refers to the aura of white light (composed of ALL colors) associated with their advanced spiritual state and the brotherhood of enlightened humanity composed of all races.
Peace and happiness, the heart's desire of all humanity, is not a gift to be bestowed on mankind, but has to be earned by honest effort.
Humanity has long wished for peace and happiness, but it seldom seems to take the actions necessary to secure it.
The word peace refers, in its most ancient form, to a pact made between two or more for their own security.
The word happiness is derived: from happy and -ness. Meaning "pleasant and contented mental state. Happiness is a pleasant and contented mental state.
The word TRUE: is from an ancient word root *drew-o-, from an ancient word root *deru- meaning "be firm, solid, steadfast."
So TRUE HAPPINESS is that firm, steadfast good mental state that comes from within, or above. Thus "True happiness" , by definition, cannot be something given or acquired from "outside of self."
Spalding is telling us that such a secure, pleasant, and contented state is "not a gift to be bestowed", but rather it has to be earned by honest effort.
To those who would claim that peace and happiness is "bestowed by God" I would point out that you are correct, BUT I would also point out that due to the natural "frequency variation" (ups and downs) of life, that lasting peace and happiness only occurs when one has a firm, steadfast good mental state that comes from within or above. Being able to have a a secure, pleasant, and contented state when the "downs" are piling on requires honest effort. Even the Biblical character Job had to make an honest effort as he took his complaints directly to God.
A second quote states:
There is a great brotherhood throughout the world who have been working for peace for thousands of years.… There is always one central unit as a first or centralizing body and 12 units which surround that unit, giving it more force and power. They are working also for the enlightenment of the whole world.
Taking these statements literally, we see that this refers to: A brotherhood (a kindred group) the world over who seeks and works for peace (the security of two or more); that has a "central unit" (a single source that serves as the focus of the work) and also has associated units that gives that focus "more force and power."
Enlightenment refers to "supply with intellectual light" and literally means to "put light in." This kindred family of light, the world over, works for teaching this enlightenment to those who would seek it.
In the third quote Spalding tells us that:
These groups are really composed of a few human beings who are actuated by the high thought of the white brotherhood [light brotherhood].
These brotherhood groups are composed of the kindred souls that are shedding a spotlight on honest effort in promoting that firm, steadfast good mental state that comes from within, or above.
This is but an introductory taste of what Spalding's book offers for study.
This presentation concludes with some thought questions.
- What is peace to you? Is it something given to you, earned by you, or does it "just happen?"
- Why must true happiness arise from within rather than be dependent upon something external to our "selves."
- Why is it that these groups are composed of "a few" humans?
- Are YOU a member of the “Light Family at Large” (the Great White Brotherhood)?
- Do you have a group of kindred spirits with which to work in enlightening the world?
This will conclude this introduction, but there is a great deal of further information that we may learn from this book. We have but stuck our toe in the water.
The work of this Brotherhood of Light is not about promoting a specific faith, it is certainly not about promoting any specific religion or practice, it IS about the observations and actions of small groups of individuals working together to help others "Master" the Art of Living.
I believe such an Art to be an adjunct to faith and religion, a kind of graduate course if you will, in the Art of Living a Spiritual Life.