Anthony J. Fisichella...
The Mystery Schools
The esoteric influence has not been confined only to organized religion. “No age or culture has been without its esoteric schools,” so says Manly Palmer Hall. These esoteric schools, from the ancient mystery schools of Atlantis and Egypt to the current-day Arcane School in New York, have attempted to fill the void in spiritual knowledge and training left by the traditional systems. As we trace man’s history we discover occult fraternities and
mystery schools in every culture and period of man’s development. A brief and partial list would include such organizations as the Ancient Rosicrucians, the Masons, Theosophists, Gnostics, Essenes, and Cabbalists. There have been the Druidic Mysteries, the Mithraic Rites, the State Mysteries of the Mayans and Incas, and the occult teachings of the North and South American Indians. Remnants of some of these and other ancient mystery schools still exist in the world today but have for the most part, lost sight of their metaphysical heritage.
It is most unfortunate that so many esoteric groups have aborted or adulterated the occult teachings. Much that is heralded under the banner of esotericism and the occult is, at best, good psychology and, at worst, dangerous malpractice or foolish superstition. Like the churches, they too have had the “Truth” but have failed to recognize it. The true occult teachings and esoteric schools are, as the terms imply, hidden from the general public and have nothing to do with advertising, proselytizing, and commercialism. It is true that, with the dawning of the Aquarian Age so imminent, much that has heretofore been secret is beginning to emerge in the public domain; but, “Many will proclaim themselves as esoteric schools and will communicate nothing of a truly esoteric nature. They will attract to themselves the gullible and the foolish. There are many such functioning in this manner today” (Djwhal Khul).
Every mystery school had, and still has, one overshadowing purpose—the preparation of students endowed with the psychic idiosyncrasy for responsiveness to higher influences and the exaltation of human consciousness to a higher plane of expression— leading to the integration spoken of earlier. The appearance of different esoteric groups, during varying periods in man’s history and at different locales, has provided the specialized means of evoking the next faculty to be developed in the advanced minority during that period, while the orthodox religions carried the burden of supplying the inspiration and guidance for the vast majority. In this manner, people of all stages have been drawn up from their own particular rung on the evolutionary ladder to the next. And all of this has occurred under divine guidance—the “Plan,” God’s purpose in action. The true esoteric schools have taken aspiring souls and provided them with the techniques and disciplines essential for spiritual unfoldment. The application of these principles, however, has been and continues to be the responsibility of the individual. It has been an occult tradition that the spiritual aspirant must demonstrate his worthiness at every stage of his development before being permitted to move on. Spiritual expansion is strictly a question of interior evolution and has naught to do with mundane pursuits, nor with achievement in the empirical sense.
The Ageless Wisdom has ever provided the means by which this interior culturing might be understood and accelerated, providing the neophyte is truly ready. To enter into its sacred precincts and share in its knowledge and power has always required the efforts of a rare individual indeed. Within its hallowed chambers reside the priceless treasures of true occult knowledge and power, safely preserved, awaiting the awakening of humanity. The beauty of the period in which we now live is the awakening of so many individuals to this possibility of spiritual expansion. The day is truly pregnant with opportunity. Many individuals are registering a new calling in their consciousness. Their response to this beckoning will be dictated by their ability or inability to free themselves of past and present clingings, religious or otherwise. In describing a theosophist (one of many approaches to esotericism), Madame Blavatsky said that he or she should “belong to no cult, sect, religion or creed, and yet to each and all.” This certainly describes a healthy, open-minded attitude that could be cultivated by each of us and that would definitely serve us well.
I am also reminded of another relevant statement made by this great seer. “There is no religion greater than truth,” she said. Unfortunately, many of us dream of truth only to discover that we cannot live with it when it puts in its appearance. Our attachments to the past and our preconceived notions about the future are too compelling. I have encountered proclaimed, spiritual seekers who, when faced with unfamiliar truths that challenge their accepted belief systems, adopt the attitude, “I’ve made up my mind, now don’t confuse me with the facts.” It is truth that is paramount and “. . . you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Our commitment must be to truth, not to consistency or conformity. If you really want to get high, try living in truth—total honesty and openness. I warn you, it can get very frightening; but, it is also beautifully liberating. The Ageless Wisdom, eternally residing within the Cosmic Mind, has systematically revealed the principles essential to this spiritual emancipation.
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