Ascended master
One definition of an
ascended master is an individual who has undergone the process of
ascension. Throughout history, there have been stories of these individuals who have reached a higher state of spiritual awareness and placed themselves in service to humanity.
One concept of an
ascended master derives from the teachings of
Theosophy.
In Theosophy, and various descendants and offshoots of theosophy [
1], ascended masters are a group of
spiritually
enlightened beings, once mere mortals, who have undergone a process of spiritual transformation. According to these teachings, they remain attentive to the spiritual needs of humanity, and act as superintendents of its spiritual growth. In this, they can be compared to the
Great White Brotherhood or
Secret Chiefs who are posited by various
magical organizations; and more remotely, to the
bodhisattvas of
Buddhism, or the
saints of
Catholic and
Orthodox Christianity.
Origins
One idea may actually have originated with
Edward Bulwer-Lytton, who in his satirical book
The Coming Race posited the existence of "
Nine Unknown Men" who secretly run things in the world. According to biographer Marion Meade,
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society, was a huge Bulwer-Lytton fan and may have decided he was presenting true facts, disguised as fiction (
Madame Blavatsky: The Woman Behind the Myth, Putnam, 1980). Or she may have gotten the concept of the Masters from her correspondence with the
Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, a mystic lodge which offered a correspondence course in esoteric doctrine.
Blavatsky brought attention to the existence of ascended spiritual leaders through her activities which included
channelling messages from beings she called "
Mahatmas", especially her spirit guide "Koot Hoomi" or "Kuthumi." From these beginnings, her successors in the Theosophical Society leadership,
Annie Besant and especially
Charles W. Leadbeater, developed the mythology of Ascended Masters, and fleshed out many of their alleged biographies and past lives. Leadbeater's
1925 book,
The Masters and the Path, marked the crystallisation of the lore that had accumulated around the concept of Ascended Masters into a published, public form.
Organizations Holding the Belief
Belief in Ascended Masters (another name for which is "The Cosmc Masters of the Ancient Wisdom") is found among the Theosophists and among the religions and metaphysical groups derived from
Theosophy: the followers of
Alice A. Bailey, the adherents of
Guy Ballard's
I AM Activity, the
Church Universal and Triumphant,
Temple of the Presence,
Shangra-la Mission, and the followers of
Benjamin Creme. There is also a teaching derived from the
Hermetic ("Western Magic") teaching of
Dion Fortune that believes in the Ascended Masters--this group is called the
Servants of the Light;
occultist Aleister Crowley also believed he experienced contact with the Ascended Masters. Many other
occult groups claim to have contact with Ascended Masters. Many
New Age channelers routinely talk about the Masters, taking it as given that they exist, and some young people are now claiming to be Ascended Masters incarnate, providing advice and guidance in chatrooms.
"The Great White Brotherhood"
In some versions of the doctrine, the Ascended Masters, as a collegiate body, are called the "Great White Brotherhood;" the use of the term "white" refers to their advanced spirituality (i.e., that they have a white colored
aura) and has nothing to do with race—very much like "
Gandalf the White" after his victory over the
Balrog in
The Lord of the Rings. In fact, most early reports of the masters described them as ethnically
Tibetan or
Indian (
Hindu), not
European. Belief in the Brotherhood and the Masters is an essential part of the
syncretistic teachings of these several groups. Various important spiritual leaders such as
Jesus, the Prophet
Muhammad, the
Virgin Mary, and
Kuan Yin the compassionate bodhisattva, take their seats alongside magical or
alchemical personalities like the
Count of St Germain, and other mystic celebrities like
Kuthumi, one of
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky's claimed spiritual guides—all of these leaders have put aside any differences they might have had in their earthly careers, and unite instead to improve the spiritual well-being of the human race.
Reincarnation
Reincarnation is a notable feature of some groups' teachings about the ascended masters. For example, according to the Summit Lighthouse the ascended master Kuthumi was also 'incarnate' as a number of historically important people, including
Pharaoh Thutmose III, the philosopher
Pythagoras,
Saint Francis of Assisi, Balthasar the
Magus, and
Shah Jahan. Several of the other ascended masters are said to have had equally distinguished careers in reincarnation.
"Ascension Bloodlines"
One of the most interesting beliefs about ascension is the notion of "ascension bloodlines". According to the
Gnostic tradition, ascension is said to happen only after several dedicated lifetimes that directly support the ascension process. If an individual ascends leaving daughters, the daughters supposedly become able to reproduce at will rather than going through the process of sex. The ascension process is said to transmit forward along the genetic line for seven generations, giving the females the ability to give
virgin birth to offspring who will ascend. The priest class in various cultures were said to guard these bloodlines in order to ensure that all descendants would ascend. This belief is based on the many accounts in mythology and spiritual history of individuals born of virgin mothers (
Jesus,
Mithra, etc.) who then accomplish extraordinary social changes, preceding their ascension.
Believers propose that humans are composed of a physical body and a
soul, both of which are composed of
energy. As
physics has revealed to us, everything is composed of energy. Even if we cannot physically "see" something (
radio waves,
X rays, etc.), that energy exists at various frequencies and with the proper medium we can experience at least the effect of these energies. In the theory of ascension, it is assumed that humans are composed of seven energetic bodies—physical,
etheric,
astral, causal,
mental, celestial, and Christ bodies. The physical body is at the lowest frequency, and each of the successive bodies exists at higher frequencies. Each of these energetic bodies is essential to maintaining the harmony between the physical body and the soul. The bodies are related to the seven main
chakras, which correspond with specific
endocrine glands.
Ascension is described as consciously increasing the vibratory rate of the physical and other bodies to the Christ level. Stories describe the physical body losing its definition, diffusing, then finally resembling a
star imploding or exploding.
Believers in ascension make a distinction between an enlightened individual and an ascended master. When an individual becomes enlightened—that is, consciously lives on the Christ/Buddha level of awareness—they need experience no further lifetimes to realize their oneness with the universe. The enlightened person can then use their innate awareness to learn more about the universe, or choose to become a master and help others achieve this state. Not every enlightened person becomes a master. Once enlightened, a person can opt for further reincarnations.
People who have raised their bodies through ascension are fully in command of the physical realm, capable of decelerating their vibratory rate to appear any way they desire, including moving about freely on earth. Thus, ascension is seen as an alternative to death.
The topic of ascension and ascended masters is one that probably will continue to spark controversy and disbelief, and can be a difficult subject to comprehend even for those who have spent years studying esoteric doctrines. Having been playfully described as something like getting "beamed up", as in the television series
Star Trek, the idea of ascension has not reached widespread acceptance. Some relegate the subject matter to the realm of New Age myth and fantasy, while others maintain the process of ascension is as natural as human evolution. Historically, for the past two thousand years, the concept of ascension seemed so outrageous and confrontational, especially within traditional, western, orthodox religious belief systems, that many people dismissed the idea immediately or have a very strong adverse reaction to it. The idea that all humans could conceivably do what Christ supposedly did is seen by many religious persons as presumptuous, if not blasphemous.
In the 21st century, the notion of ascension seems to attract individuals more interested in eastern religions,
spirituality,
metaphysics, or those simply looking for a deeper meaning to their existing beliefs and experiences.
One difficulty in discussing the idea of an ascended master is that there is no universally-accepted, definitive, scientific text which describes what the conditions are to become such a person, or how to verify the conditions. Even in the 21st century, most public sources, even books directly dealing with the topic, tend to describe various ascended masters, their activities, meetings with such people, etc., without giving us the requisite understanding of how we ourselves could undergo the process of ascension firsthand. With only anecdotal reports and no actual "how-to" manual, we are then left struggling with how to either retrofit this concept into our existing beliefs, how to shift our beliefs entirely, or simply reject the system altogether. Texts that claim to give a deeper understanding of ascension, including practical exercises, meditations, diet, etc., are often dismissed by mainstream audiences.
Beginning in the
1930s, a few books were published on this subject, the authors claiming to have had contact with Masters who encouraged the more pragmatic aspects of the Ascension process to be known. Prior to that, the practical knowledge is claimed to have been held in strict secrecy within
Mystery schools, allegedly due to the pressures and intolerance of orthodox religious authorities. Even among many who believe themselves to be spiritual adepts or initiates, the concept of ascension has not been widely accepted or understood because of the radical nature of transformation that has been ascribed to it.
Books which purport to detail the developmental process Jesus went through in finding his own Inner Christ Self include
The Urantia Book, published in 1955, and
A Course In Miracles, suppposedly dictated by Christ Himself and published in 1976.
The history of ascension predates Christianity, indeed extending back for thousands of years, yet the story of Jesus is one of the most widely known stories of ascension. In the Bible when Mary Magdalene wants to reach out and touch Christ at the tomb, he says, "Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my Father." This has led to the idea that the ascension process is apparently so delicate that even the touch of an ordinary human, who still holds the concepts of limitation and separation, is enough to hold the ascension process back. (This does not explain how Jesus was then able to sit down and have a fish dinner with his disciples.) It is generally thought that one does not have to die in order to ascend, but the fact that Jesus was said to have died, then resurrected, then ascended, has led some people to believe that this must be the case for everyone.
Other individuals with stories of ascension include:
Hellenism (Ancient Greek Religion) *
Hercules, following the completion of his twelve labors, the Greek hero was raised to heaven and made a god by
Zeus.
*
Apollonius of Tyana, a
Greek holy man and teacher of the philosophy of
Neo-Pythagoreanism, was said to have ascended to heaven by the ancient author
Philostratus.
Roman Catholic Church *
Virgin Mary (Mother of Jesus); When Mary chose to ascend, one story says that she gathered up disciples around her to witness the event, and then she "consumed" herself, contrary to the
Roman Catholic belief that Mary was simply "
taken up into heaven". Another story has Mary dying in a normal fashion, and her body placed at her own request in a sealed tomb, which was opened and found empty three days later.
Islam*
Muhammad, the famous prophet of Islam is said to have ascended at the site of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem (this was a temporary ascension). This is called "Muhammed's Night Journey" or "Miraj" (ladder). While in heaven Allah at first wanted to people to pray 500 times a day, but Muhammed got Him to reduce it to a more manageable five times a day. Of course,
Muslims believe Muhammed ascended to heaven permanently after his death.
TaoismIn the Taoist religion, there are eight human beings who, it is believed, eventually attained immortality and thus became the
Eight Immortals. Many Taoists have attempted to find magical potions, spells, or perform yoga exercises like
Qi Gong that would enable them to become immortal like the Eight Immortals. In the Taoist religion, the
peach represents immortality.
The
Eight Immortals are:
*
Immortal Woman He (He Xiangu)
*
Royal Uncle Cao (Cao Guojiu)
*
Iron-crutch Li (Li Tieguai),
*
Lan Caihe*
Lü Dongbin*
Philosopher Han Xiang (Han Xiang Zi)
*
Elder Zhang Guo (Zhang Guo Lao)
*
Zhongli QuanHinduism*
Vishwanath, ascended master rumored to incarnate as individuals with psychic abilities (unconfirmed).
Theosophy *
El Morya, said to have been a
Rajput prince, also incarnated as
King Arthur and as
Thomas More. Theosophists believe he was one of the masters who worked closely with Helena Blavatsky to found the original Theosophical Society.
*
Mahatma Kuthumi, said to have been a
Punjabi who attended
Oxford University in
1850, may have authored the poem "Dream of Ravan" published in the Dublin University Magazine about
1854.
*
Djwhal Khul, said to have been a
Tibetan who started out with the unlikely name Gai Ben-Jamin. Believers tell the legend of his incarnation on
Lemuria where he assisted in rescuing valuable knowledge before the sinking of that continent. He is said later to have transmitted this information to channeller
Alice Bailey.
*
Count of St Germain, also known as "The Master Rakozi" in the
Alice A. Bailey books based on
Theosophy, is believed by many
New Age religious groups such as
I Am and the
Church Universal and Triumphant to have ascended in 1684 after what was believed to be his final mortal incarnation as Sir
Francis Bacon. These groups believe that St. Germain, a mysterious individual reputed to be a "magician" who flourished in France and was widely known among the aristocracy just before the revolution of 1789, was already an ascended master, which is believed to explain his reputed magical powers.
The dome of the
United States Capitol has a mural depicting the
apotheosis of George Washington.
An ascension-like process, including a fountain of pyrotechnics, is shown as experienced by two members of the
Enterprise crew at the climax of
Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
One television show that has
regularly portrayed this set of ideas is the
science fiction television series
Stargate SG-1. The species that built the Stargate artifacts, the
Ancients, were afflicted by an unstoppable plague and were forced to abandon their physical bodies in order to survive.
Probably the most notable ascension-like act in the popular culture involves
Obi Wan Kenobi.
*
Godwin, Joscelyn.
The Theosophical Enlightenment (SUNY Press, 1994). ISBN 079142152X
*
Sharp, Michael.
The Book of Life: Ascension and the Divine World Order (Avatar Publications, 2004). ISBN 0973537906
*
Theosophical Society, the original source of information about the Masters- known as the Mahatmas or Elder Brothers.
*
The Summit Lighthouse, founded by
Elizabeth Clare Prophet, contains a great deal of information about one version of the ascended masters, owned by Church Universal and Triumphant, one of the best-known religious groups based in Theosophy.
*
The I AM Activity, Guy Ballard, and St Germain Exposed Detailed pages exposing fraud behind the scenes of
Guy Ballard's "I AM Activity", the largest exponent of Ascended Master lore in the
1930s.
*
End Of A False Prophet A classic article criticizing Clare Prophet and the Ballards and their claims to be guided and directed by Ascended Masters.
*
Shangra-la Mission *
Arduinna's Stargate Handbook: Ascendants The ascension process as portrayed in the television space fantasy
Stargate SG-1 (Web address updated as of 1 Aug 06).
*
Hermandad Blanca, Misionaria de Luz*
Divine Teachers Speak Today Presents what it says are conversations with Divine Teachers (Ascended Masters)
*
The I AM UniversityClaims to present detailed theoretical and experiential training and education in the practice of Ascension.
*
Ascension How-to
