photo from Nepal by Marina & Enrique
[Update, May 13 - I believe now that these books are entirely fictional, and Spalding did not travel to India at the time described. To me, the message is authentic, as it is consistent with information from other sources.]
I’ve just re-read volume 1 from the set of 6 books, Life And Teaching Of The Masters Of The Far East, by Baird T Spalding, for the first time in 22 years, and was blown away by it.
Baird T Spalding was a geophysicist and mining engineer, born 1857, who travelled a lot doing geological surveys, and he and a party of fellow American scientists spent over 3 years traveling with immortal masters in India and thereabouts, from 1894.
I bought the set and read it in 1986 (in those days it was 5 books)—it was pretty standard reading for anyone interested in physical immortality. I enjoyed it, felt I understood it, lent the first volume to my breathwork buddy ‘D’, lost contact with ‘D’… and never got the book back!
Because the series has been invariably sold as a 5 (or 6) volume set, I felt less than enthusiastic about buying it again—I already owned the rest of the set. I have leafed through the other volumes occasionally over the years, but somehow couldn’t get into them. But then I discovered recently you can buy the separate volumes on Amazon—and Bingo, I am the proud owner of a new volume 1 with a different cover from the rest. And as I said, I have just read it and been blown away.
The story
The books are kind of like a cross between a boys-own adventure and a spiritual guide. In volume 1, Spalding and his group are taken by three guides Emil, Jast and Neprow for treks around and through the Himalayas and its foothills, staying for short or longer periods in various villages and temples along the way. This book covers the first year of their travels.
They discover fairly early on that their guides could travel large distances in only a few minutes by disappearing and re-appearing somewhere else, and were creating their food out of thin air. In the course of the book they observe people walking on water, walking through fire, and rooms being kept warm and lit with no discernible power source. They also learn that their guides and their many friends, who they also meet, are immortal and mostly several hundred years old, while looking like healthy young people (except more interesting).
The guides and their friends are extremely warm, friendly and loving, and they go to great lengths to explain that they are regular humans who are doing things all humans are capable of doing.
Spalding and the books
Spalding kept handwritten notes of his travels, and friends asked him for copies, so he typed up what became volume 1, and carried these typed copies around to give people. In 1924 a woman printed 1000 copies to give to her friends, and within 60 days, orders for over 20,000 copies were placed.
After the success of volume 1, Spalding went ahead and wrote more of his materials up to become volumes 2 (1927) and 3 (1935), about his second and third years with the immortals. He was 70 in 1927.
After this Spalding wrote and spoke extensively about the teachings of the immortals. Volume 4 (1948) consists of some of his writings about these teachings, and volume 5 (1955) was published 2 years after his death in 1953, and contains material from lectures he gave in the last 2 years of his life.
Very little has been known about Spalding’s life—he apparently kept people’s focus well and truly on the message he conveyed. So it was very exciting for people who loved his books when someone went though “ten dusty cartons” in the publisher’s warehouse and found “unpublished Spalding manuscripts and papers, magazine articles, personal letters, photographs, and other biographical materials”, some of which have been compiled into volume 6, published in 1997. I’m quoting from the DeVorss website (the publisher).
Eternal life
The message in the books is very clear—we are immortal beings who have nothing to gain by dying, and everything to gain by reaching for full expression (my description). Of course, it is ironic that Spalding himself died, aged 95, as have quite a few other people who have spread the ideas of physical immortality.
Maybe these people saw a truth, but at the time they lived, humanity’s group mind had not evolved to the point where enough people love life so much they don’t want to leave, and are willing to heal themselves of anything, so that it becomes easy for everyone to slip into physical immortality. The immortals in these books have done it anyway.
Is it true?
Detractors of Spalding say all sorts of things about him—personally, I think that if information resonates as truth, or as useful, then it is true, or useful. Spalding’s story resonates as truth to me. He wrote at the start of one of his books: “In this I sincerely and with all respect remind the reader that the more receptive one is, the more one receives.”
The books and me (and you)
To me this series of books covers similar territory to other books I have been re-reading regularly over the years (The Door of Everything, Ken Carey’s books), but because I haven’t ever read this ‘Life and Teaching’ book again since the first time, I can see a huge difference in how I perceive it now to how I perceived it then.
I understood the message of the books back in 1986, and felt inspired by it, but I was too “buried” to really take it in. While I had so many “problems”, the information seemed nice and fun, but not immediately useful. I notice that I am far more alert and clear about it’s message now, and find it very relevant to me and the people around me, today.
I’d really recommend these books to anyone who has been even slightly intrigued about physical immortality—or volume 1, anyway! I think it explains the physical immortality outlook very well, and certainly more completely than I have on this blog. Much of it is couched in religious terms, which I find doesn’t interfere with the message, but some might.
Here’s a link so you can look at it (and some reviews) on Amazon: Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East, Vol. 1
And ‘D’, if you discover this post when you are Googling away looking to buy your missing volumes on the internet, do drop me an email (or leave a comment, wouldn’t that be funny!)
Speaking of comments, I’d love to hear what you think. You are welcome to leave a comment if you are not a blogger—if anyone who has read Spalding’s books is reading this, it would be great to hear your thoughts about them.
More posts, a random selection:
- Festival Of Life
- Paul’s Letter To The Corinthians
- Letting Creativity Just Slip In
- Bloggers’ Chorus Post-Christmas Post
- Gratitude And Miracles
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Hi Robin,
Thanks for posting about this. I’ve never heard of these books, which sounds fascinating. I was sure your perspective would have changed after 22 years, as I read the beginning of this post. Ever since I read about Tibetan monks being able to sleep outdoors and be warm during a snowstorm while covered only with a sheet, and also about evidence that Jesus Christ spent some time with them, I’ve been very interested. I’m hoping the books aren’t too expensive, so I can get them, but if not, I’ll get one at a time and see what I think.
Dots last blog post..Feelings About Spring
For your American readers, I wanted to let them and you know that I’ve found individual volumes on half.com and eBay for anywhere from $1.50 to $12.00, plus postage. Some don’t indicate the volume number so they aren’t very helpful.
Dots last blog post..Feelings About Spring
Hiya Robin
It’s late for me and I’m a little sleepy, but before I rest my eyes I wanted to read your latest post.
Glad I have. I haven’t heard of these books before either.
I think that life experience is the extent of our imagination and therefore if someone has taken the time to share their experience or imagination then it’s a truth.
Don’t know if I’ll ever get around to reading these books in recent days, but I like to know that there available for me.
Keep bloggin’ … I like what you share.
Thanks Ribbon
Hi, I found your blog through the Urban Panther’s. Interesting stuff. I’ve always loved the idea of sticking around for a long, long time and have always thought that our mental state has so much to do with our physiological state. I’m going to have to go back and read through more of your posts to see exactly what your thinking is on all this. Nice to meet you!
XUPs last blog post..Down There
Wow those books and Spaulding sound amazing.
About the quote,“In this I sincerely and with all respect remind the reader that the more receptive one is, the more one receives.” I’ve never looked at information that way or even ideas. Or else it just hit me at a deeper level today. Thanks for sharing and causing us to stretch and open our minds, Robin.
Robin, I have not read these books, but in others I have read – Yogananda, and Alexandra David-Neel particularly – they talk about some physical immortals, mostly spiritual teachers they met who had specific missions that required them to stay in a body so long. This idea of physical immortality is new to me, I will have to check out past posts you have done on this. Since I believe in reincarnation, I tend to view your statement regarding Spalding’s message, “we are immortal beings who have nothing to gain by dying, and everything to gain by reaching for full expression” in those terms – that we never do really ‘die’ as in entirely ceasing to exist, we just change ‘clothes’, so to speak…
Lisa
Lisa (mommymystic)s last blog post..2nd Chakra Series – Motherhood and Creating
Sounds very interesting, I will have to check these books out. Thanks for posting…
“Of course, it is ironic that Spalding himself died, aged 95, as have quite a few other people who have spread the ideas of physical immortality.” Well… I’m not sure you want me to say what I think about it, but I’m sure you can guess.
Can we continue to be friends even though we have such deep disagreement on an issue that’s so important to you? I really like you. I hope we can.
Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..Fear of Rape
Hi Robin: It sounds like Spalding had a fantastic experience with his travels. I like how you say that the guides appeared to be young people, but much more interesting
I was just updating my squidoo lens on how to keep your brain young, and scientists are discovering how malleable the brain actually is, when previously it was thought the brain was pretty much hardwired. So we’re chaging our concepts on how we age everyday.
Hi,
Does this book talk about HOW we can live forever?
I think we are pretty much done with the “Hey it’s possible to live forever!” level. I’d be interested in how we can live forever. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are many path to this heaven.
I am currently reading the book Journey of Souls by Michael Newton. It’s been on my to-read list for a looong time and I finally managed to get my hands on it. I am not sure about physical immortality yet; but the findings in the book resonated so well with me about us as spirits and that we never really die, that they are now forgone conclusions for me. Somehow, I am still preferring not to live in my current physical life forever. It’s not that I am not having fun now but I sense there is more out there for me to experience and know about.
Evelyn Lims last blog post..From Outer to Inner Space
Well I was going to credit the blog I found you on, but I have been to so many, I turned my head for a minute and I forgot – I’m pretty sure I came in from Blunt Delivery’s site. I agree that these books sound fascinating, really, thanks for the info I will check these out as soon as I can and have a few friends who I know would be interested too. Thanks again.
Christina Bledsoes last blog post..Who Will Be American Idol’s Top Two?
@Dot – I think you would like them, Dot. Thanks for the price info!
@Ribbon – hiya to you too – hope you had a nice sleep over there in the west. I’d like to go on and read the next book now – but I might not have time, so I know how you feel.
@XUP – hi there and welcome to this blog! Lovely to hear your thoughts about this topic – and I look forward to visiting your blog!
@Tess – Hi there Tess – that line jumped out at me, too – I thought it was pretty funny! People can be so receptive amd open they lose the ability to be discerning, though – finding the right balance is the key, I suppose.
@Lisa – hi there Lisa – the Yogananda book is another one I might write about some time (it’s on my Resources page). I certainly think that spirit/soul never dies – and we are heading for self-realisation where we can manifest a physical body at any time – people on the birth-death cycle can’t do that. I think life brings us the new experiences we need to evolve (change clothes), while going down the aging and death route just slows our progress. Thanks for your comment!
@Donna – Hi Donna and welcome! I’m glad you find this interesting.
@Vered – hi Vered – I really like you too! – of course. If you feel uncomfortable about these sorts of posts, please don’t feel you need to leave comments on them (it must be tiring saying you’ve “read them but don’t agree”) – none of my offline friends except for Frank are into physical immortality, and if I mention it now and then they look at me sideways – though lately they have been more likely to say my blog is quite interesting but then they don’t ever look at it again.
@Marelisa – hi Mare – yes the books and films that are coming out are all reinforcing that idea – things are all quite malleable. Thanks for the info!
@Akemi – Hi Akemi – I think there would be about as many different answers to that question as there are people! I might do a sort of tongue in cheek post on how to become immortal, with my thoughts on this some time, but I do think you and most other people who find themselves reading this blog would have enough understanding of healing methods to know that once we change our beliefs about the inevitability of death, we can achieve immortality by healing ourselves.
@Evelyn – that we are spirits that never die is a given to me, too. I think there is certainly far more out there for us to experience, on all sorts of levels. The immortals people write about, including the ones in Spaldings books, can raise their vibrations to higher states, taking their bodies with them, and lower them to become visible on the physical level, at will.
@Christina – hi there and welcome to this blog! I’m very glad you find this topic interesting – and I haven’t ever heard of Blunt Delivery! I’m looking forward to dropping over to your blog.
Hi Robin. As always an interesting topic. I enjoy stretching the imagination. I do know there is more to our physical bodies than meets the eye.
I’ve done a fire walk and participated in a vision quest once. I stayed in a tent for 3 days with no water or food. All I had with me was a cotton wrap. No sleeping bag either. On the first night I was chilly and on the second night quite comfortable. However, after the quest I found out that the temperature on the second night was much lower than on the first night. I thought that was interesting. But, my days of vision questing are done… I think.
As for living forever, my brain just doesn’t want to go there. I believe in the immortality of the soul, but not the physical body. I’m just too content with the way things are.
Davinas last blog post..Positively Breathing — A Series Intro
Hi Darling,
So looking forward to reading this book, now that you have finished it.
Love Frankie xx
I haven’t read these. It sounds fascinating. I’ll see if I can pick up Volume 1.
Mama Zens last blog post..When You’re Serious About Playdating
Hi,
I haven’t read these books, but they do sound like something I may be interested in.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
@Davina – how interesting about your experiences – we have vision quest here, too. I think that being in present time is the best approach to life, so your satisfaction with things as they are sounds quite wonderful to me.
@Frankie – hi Seetheart – I know you would really like it.
@Mama Zen – I hope you find them useful – enjoyed your playdate piece!
@Giovanna – hi Giovanna – I hope you enjoy them if you get to read them – probably vol 1 is enough for most people to get the idea.
Hi Robin,
That’s what I like about your posts, you make me stretch my mind.
I also like the part where you said you read the books years earlier but they didn’t resonate with you like they are now. Isn’t that funny how that works? I’ve done the same and it’s like the light bulb goes off. Finally!.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Are Introverts Better Bloggers
I’ve read all Spalding six volumes – and the book written about him by Bruton and pretty much anything else ever written on him. I’m in the process of writing a biography on him and several other New Thought authors.
Baird was a troubled but brilliant man. Unfortunately all of the spiritual content in his books is 100% fictional. There was no trip to India in 1894, no Spalding Foundation, no Master Emil. He did however sell over a million books, making him and his publisher quite wealthy.
Sorry to burst your bubble!
Well, I can’t believe the sheltered life I’ve been living. Never heard of this Spalding man. Did he make the sports balls and equipment too?
I do have pancakes in a squeeze can, that almost qualifies as creating food out of thin air, doesn’t it?!
As per Tess above, “In this I sincerely and with all respect remind the reader that the more receptive one is, the more one receives…” that resonates with me for sure!
It is interesting how our perspective changes on reading things, as per Barbara above, over time. Amazing the new levels we get to on this life journey.
I hope your journey today is a happy one indeed.
And say hi from me to Frank, the the Humphead Maori Wrasse fan, okay!
@Barbara – hi there Barbara! It is funny how that happens – things go in at a whole new level.
@Reader – it doesn’t resonate as truth with you then?
If Spalding dreamed the whole thing up, it would still resonate as truth to me – and thank you for giving me the opportunity to say this. The other books I mentioned in this post have a similar content, and they are definitely channelled books – I have been putting quotes and excerpts from these books on this blog for a while, as I felt they had a truth to offer. Many other books also have the same message as is found in these books of Spalding’s – if you like the message, you like it, I guess, and if you don’t, you don’t. I do think my readers are sophisticated enough to see all this for themselves.
[Update, May 13 - Reader, I now believe the books are, as you say, fictional. I do believe the message they convey is an authentic one. Cheers! - and thanks for the input.]
Hi Robin,
Thanks for telling us about Spalding.Haven’t heard about him before and seems like this series is wonderful.I’m gonna read them in the first chance that I get.
@Jannie – oh you tennis nut you – of COURSE you have been making pancakes out of thin air – shall alert Maori Wrasse Man of his greetings.
@Vikum – hi Vikum – I’m thinking the first volume might be enough to get the idea, unless one is very keen on the writing. I’d be interested to hear what you think!
Many people, here in Brazil, read that book, that changed lots of lives, like myself.
Best wishes, Rui.
http://perfecthealth-rui.blogspot.com
Rui Fragassis last blog post..Oscar Quiroga – 552
Hi Robin,
I agree with many other here – that you’re helping to stretch my mind. And that’s a very good thing. What I do believe is that we can heal ourselves of much even just through our thoughts. And I think this goes a long way toward this idea of physical immortality – of living a long and productive life. I’m going to look this book up -thanks!
Lances last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
“The books are kind of like a cross between a boys-own adventure and a spiritual guide.” This was enough for me to give them a shot. I’ll check him out in the library. I may have missed it but are these writings a fictional account of his travels or nonfiction?
Tom Volkar / Delightful Works last blog post..What’s the Truth About Authentic Work?
@Rui – greetings to you in Brazil! Thanks for your comment.
@Lance – hi there Lance – I really appreciate you dropping in – it makes a difference to me that you and the others are willing to even read this stuff I’m putting on this blog. Thanks!
@Tom – and thanks to you too. You ask an interesting question – the books are presented as nonfiction, but the passages of spiritual information from the immortals (they get longer in the second book which I am reading at the moment) would have been impossible to write down without the help of a tape recorder, I’d imagine, so this information was perhaps “received” in an alternative manner. I’m finding myself skipping over parts of these passages in the second book.
Thanks Robin, as long as it’s an interesting read we can decide how to take it. Read this Steven Wright quote today and thought of you.
“I intend to live forever. So far, so good.”
Tom Volkar / Delightful Works last blog post..What’s the Truth About Authentic Work?
Books sound interesting enough to make me add them to my list of reads and check out my friend who has read them all. I love to think about new ideas and check them out. I had not heard about this series, but I am sure I would believe every word as I read them and then discern what they meant to me after.
I loved reading the fictional book about my home town – The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch…we have a spiritual channel er here in town and she became part of the story…very interesting how we connect to what might be thought about different stories.
Thank you
Patricias last blog post..Examining the Role and the Rules
@Tom – that quote is funny – I just looked him up on Wikipedia. Thanks!
@Patricia – I’m reading the second book and it’s a bit more full of long teachings than the first book, which I skip over a bit. You have a friend who has read them? I’d be interested to know what they thought! I’m like you describe – I just read it and take it in and switch on the objective switch at some other point of the process (except for the astronomy bits which are clearly wrong – but then they could be communicating something other than scientific fact). Thanks for the input!
i too have never heard of these book, you’re quite good at finding the unknown to me authors and opening up a new prospective on life.
“the information seemed nice and fun, but not immediately useful.”
it’s great when we finally reach this point. information becomes useful and not just words. that’s great robin, i like that a lot. i try to strive for that and not just have head knowledge but allow it to penetrate my heart, thoughts and actions. what’s the point of reading something if the information is never applied? when it is applied it becomes useful. i love that so much.
Naturals last blog post..Mirror, Mirror on the Blog….
I can see so many people starting to be tired of living after 35-40, and I realize I was on the same boat once, but now I love life, my life so intensely I am passionate to live longer and healthier. Now I know it all comes down to one thing, being grateful! I have healed from my negative symptoms and now I feel like when I was 20 and look like when I was 30 (I am 47) Never be pessimistic or sad or envy anyone thats ungratefulness, that destroys you, makes you sick and shortens your lifespan. I believe inmortality in the flesh can be attained by reaching a state of absolute grace or love or whatever you want to call it, becoming love oneself. velajorge@hotmail.com
Hi Robin,
i have read this book … volume one … its really amazing … and i really look forward to meet a few immortal yogis in this life … and Live for atleast 300 years my self …
thats the target i have set for my self for now : )
in fact i feel i will be meeting a immortal yogi …. in this year in october here in India … when i meet one … i will let you know what i learned from them … if they permit me i will record their teachings also : )
Love
Monish
@Natural – “i try to strive for that and not just have head knowledge but allow it to penetrate my heart, thoughts and actions” – I like that, Val
@Jorge – hi there and welcome to this blog! Thanks for your comment – gratitude and loving ourselves can move mountains, can’t they?!
@Monish – welcome to you, to this blog, too! I hope all goes well with your expedition in India, and that’s very interesting that you see yourself living for 300 years!
Thanks for continuing the conversation Robin.
I noticed you added the disclaimer that you no longer believe the books to be true a couple of weeks ago. I am interested to learn at what point during reading the six books would you have started thinking that, assuming no external input?
Vol 5 & 6 are mainly filler, so I’m guessing it was somewhere earlier but would love to hear your thoughts.
What I find interesting about Spalding is his life story. I’ve spent a lot of time researching him and have spoken to people who met him. As is often the case, the truth about Spalding, what he spent his life doing and where the material for the books came from is far stranger than his fictional writings.
If you find the spiritual content interesting, I suggest checking into the New Thought school of writing from the turn of the century (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Thought). Most of the inspiration for Spalding’s ‘magical autobiography’ was drawn from that genre. Unfortunately the teacher who I think may have inspired him the most was only published in a long vanished magazine. I included my email address if you’d like more info.
Hi there Reader – I wrote the disclaimer in because I discovered that a person I trust is saying that Spalding didn’t go to India at that time, and made it all up. I think it is very obvious that Spalding received the information in an “alternative” manner – whether by imagining it in his bedroom, or something a little more elevated – but as I said before, I am interested in the message, not the messenger. While I was reading the first volume, I was accepting the story as true, while being open as to whether it actually was or wasn’t (the best way I can describe how I approach things like this, for now).
If I come across more information that I think fits with this post, I will update the post, but in general, I am not interested in keeping up a conversation about Spalding’s life or imagination, either in this comments section or by email. I have so many other things to do!
Hi Robin, I have read these book over and over again. They have profoundly effected me, and do every time I open their pages. I have had wish to form a group locally, incase sharing about these books whould be of use, or interest to others. I assume just bringing together interested folk my bring a sharing of resources (books) and ideas. When I would ponder over their authenticity, the fact that I am so moved and motivated by these books held such weight. I practice Reiki, and have had a gift since I was a child, where energy whould flow through me in a powerful way. It would help my dog stop in having s seizure, if I was around when one came on, and I envoked the energy. I constantly have this energy flowing through me when reading theses books. I think it a sign. When something resonates as truth as strongly as these book do for me, I can not help but follow my inner guidance.
I wish there was an existing sight, where those effected as powerfully by these books, as I, could share together. Life giving energy of the cosmos manifests in such vast diverseness, that what is said in these books can come in so many other ways. I’ve faith in the multi means of life giving expression to provide, in whatever way is good for another. But it is joy, and nourishing, to see share about them so wisely.
Hi there Heidi – it’s great to hear from someone who loves the books! I’m the same as you – if I am moved and motivated by these books then their authenticity is no more than a curiosity. Thanks for your kind words!
Hello yes… I’d like to say that after one has gained the knowlege from the Masters of the Far East, One knows it’s only One! I AM GOD! BeHold God see GOD in all, as all through all….. Keep God in your eyes, know that God is all there is….. EVERYTHING!! I know that time is now that mankind will cease to exist the way we have here now!
Trust in your Christ! Crown yourself! Take command of your kingdom!
I believe that Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East is the breakthrough mankind needed!!!
Thank you Robin…
Sincere Love Jon Le’Reese
A servant of the All Universal Mind Substance!
Just want to share with you this link to Baird T. Spalding’s biography that I found on the net:
http://gratisenergi.se/baird.htm
Just want to note that I have no idea how authenticating this information is. Readers will have to make their own judgement.
There is a more detailed biography of Spalding in progress at http://www.bairdtspalding.org. Discussion of Spalding is welcome.
After reading Rick Strassman’s book ‘DMT: The spirit molecule’ -a book I highly recommend- I actually considered that there might be some truth to the Buddhist theories of life and death. Prior to this I was Agnostic, with no hope in sight for the answers many of us seek. But the limited reading I’ve done on Buddhism does imply that it’s practitioners could -if extremely focused- heat rooms and live far-extended lives.
Maybe the anomalies described in Spalding’s books are at least possible, and the good news for the faithful is ‘String Theory’ insists that ANYTHING you can imagine has a probability of happening. The more creative conceptions such as someone ‘walking on water’ might take 500 million years to happen, but there is a possibility it will happen, given enough time. String Theory has also proven that the orbit of an atom’s electron is altered simply by observing the electron, proving that our consciousness’ directly effect things at the atomic level.
In my opinion, our only realistically plausible shot at living forever is to use some sort of meditation in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle to provoke endogenous cellular regeneration at the atomic level. If memory serves, Michio Kaku wrote in his book ‘Physics of the impossible’ that it will eventually be possible to regenerate cells through the use of ‘Nano Bots’ but that’s very far off in the future. So unless you are hoping for spontaneous eternal life via String Theory probability I’d get straight to work on physical and mental health to extend your lifespan.
Living forever does sound intriguing, but the entire notion looses it’s luster when I think of all the ignorance and obtuseness that exists in this world today. Personally, I think making this world a better place to live should take priority over living forever.
Be well.
BTW, I’m sure all of you will enjoy the film ‘The man from Earth.’
@Jon – Hi there Jon – interesting comment! I’m glad to hear that these books spoke to you.
@aerothaiger – thanks for the info – there are some interesting things in there.
@Reader – your site is very interesting! (funny to see Spalding visiting my comments section).
@pondini – thanks for your comment! I think that if people were self-realised and not victims of aging and death, than the world would indeed be a better place to live in. Here’s to possibilities! – someone else mentioned that film to me recently.
I read these books in highschool after a brother went to India. I asked a systems analyst friend of ours if he thought they could be true. And he made it an assignment (he was also a tutor of mine) to analyze them. So we set up a side by side table for every term and look at how they were used or definitions to detect consistancy throughout.
We found there is an internal consistency of definition and concept or principle of a belief being enunciated.
It may have been a pastiche or conglomeration of different writers who agreed with the author’s tenets (we weren’t analyzing for plagiarism), but the message is internally coherent. So the provisional conclusions in this first stage analysis was:
• a spiritual body was being discussed as if real.
• That this body has several layers and they are not all fully co-ordinated or communicating consciously.
• That the innermost body is possessed by all and can be expressed by subduing the outer mind to the principles of the innermost.
• That if this principle can be released even the flesh can be immortalized or ‘transmuted’.
• That this is a three step process of merging each body into the higher body or transeferring the motivating center from one to another or the ‘I am’ or ego into a functional plane of use.
• The idea of use is consistently propounded as arising from recognition, attention and activation.
The author seems to distinguish between faith in a dogma against faith as a component of intelligence and expression. It seemed to be the most consistent aspect of the writings that faith is centered within and not without and upon something immediate and highly practical.
It was also obvious the author took pains to remove from the message constructed into being compulsory, because the term ’selection’ is also reiterated at specific nodes in this work. Not only that, but he specifically mentions the ‘fact versus’ fiction aspect and the subject of plagiarism at the very outset.
My feel is that this wasn’t someone looking to create a cult, but to voice a personal opinion or a slant on things. He took pains to mention Siddhas, and that is a definite and real body of knowledge and persons in Indian History.
We did see in the first volume some very impressive presages regarding stem cells and the regeneration of the body which only in the last 50 years has been born out and especially in the last 20 years with regard to ‘totipotent’ cells or ’stem’ cells, which the author introduced in the very first book.
One of his characters talks about the planets, but fails to mention Pluto. Now Pluto has officially been removed from the list of planets. His planetary evolution seems to be based on work by Alfven.
This was a very creative guy. And knowledgeable about a lot of interesting things.
The core message however is still, it seems to me, to be simply an alternative way of comprehending the life and teaching of Jesus and the Siddha or Advaita of India. The fact that this urge away from idolizing Jesus to adopting the ideal of independence by reliance on one’s spirit seems uniquely American.
A subordinate conclusion was that these books were a kind of answer against Blavatsky’s fictionalizings of Buddhism and Siddhaism both.
I have read these books several times over the years and each time I gain new insight into the reality of my own personal life. I am so glad to find a place where others are reading or have read the same books. Would love to hear from anyone and wish we had a chat room where we could go in and discuss…
@Rogerscott – hi there and welcome to this blog! Thanks for your contribution – I think these books do put us in touch with our true power very nicely.
@Jo Ann – Hi there Jo Ann and welcome to this blog! I find books like these give me new insights each time I read them, too. Maybe you could start a thread about them at Oprah.com or some other forum?
I’d like to respond to Vered’s comment above. We will never know if these people staged their death or not…and Immortalist has a choice of staying or leaving.
What about Enoch of old who not only rose to heaven with his body in tact, but the whole city went with him…with their bodies.
This man was as human as you and I are…for me that only meant that “if he can do it…we can too.” That’s how my mind thinks!
But, I do appreciate where you’re coming from and if this material is ever to be yours internally…you will have a moment of “knowing”…
Otherwise, continue to be “true to yourself”…it’s the only way to be!
Kathy
Kathy Dobson´s last blog ..Tweet Dynamite…Grab it at a Discount
Was “google”ing and found this. Thought I would leave a comment. The message in these books are awesome, and yes, I am missing some volumes. The MIND is all powerful. The human conundrum is what to do with this power. Many people have wisely taken this power away from themselves by allowing themselves to “forget”. Almost all people are good by nature, and by not allowing themselves major influence maintain that minor, but significant, lean towards good. They demonstrate this by keeping themselves from this power preventing themselves from moving. This has its hazards, and must end eventually, as they are deceiving themselves, but it is like denial, a protective measure. The deceiver is of our own making. And is actually the servant of Good, albeit in his own way, for he is a creation of the good. In this way evil is expressed to cause good. I would be truly frightened if someone came along with this level of “enlightenment and power” that believed, what most would call evil, could be good when expressed in the direct actions. This is what gives me nightmares. Let us all be happy that this is not the case. Love and Peace to ALL.
Hi Robin,
Wonderful discussion about these very interesting books. It’s a while since I last read them. I’ve always known they were fiction, however they vibrated some channelled truth in my heart.
Lynn Petersen and Theresa Lalonde over in Orange County have recently been running a study group around these books – I’ll let them know about this discussion.
lots of love Janni
Janni Lloyd´s last blog ..Why would you want to die?
I came to the same conclusion about THE LIFE AND TEACHING OF THE MASTERS OF THE FAR EAST: (1) that they were fiction and (2) that they did resonate with some good messages. I had a friend who used the “force field” method that Jesus uses in the book to stop the robbers and the person who was trying to beat him up simply went unconscious and collapsed on the floor. There were 50 witnesses to this event. I have been practicing the Psychic Heat Yoga of Tibetan Buddhism (Tumo Practice) and was able to generate enough heat to walk around in a wind breaker in an Oregon Coast Winter (with some light snow on the ground or cold rain). When I was doing Shikan Taza, Sota Zen meditation (after breath awareness practice), I was measured to have raised my external skin temperature about 28 degrees. This was part of a preliminary study I did in graduate school in Psycho-physiology. I have been fascinated by the mind/heart/body connection and noticed a number of others on your blog who are also interested. I just wanted to mention some things that I have been able to verify in my own experience.
William Bagley´s last blog ..Practical Physical Immortality
Janni – can you post a link or info about the Spalding study group you mentioned?
Reader´s last blog ..An interview with Poven Leace, English translator of Hanh Trinh Ve Phuong Dong
Hi Reader,
If you would like to contact me at vivaever AT bigpond DOT com I can check with Lynn about connecting with them.
blessings Janni
Hi Robin,
I read the volumes during my college years. Was very touched by them, never forgot them. Today for some reason I wanted to find them again, googled, and found your page in the process. Nice.
I wonder if Carlos Castaneda read Spalding.
Taya´s last blog ..Size
I discovered these books and read them all this year! I must admit, although my ego questioned whether or not these were “real” experiences, my spiritual self accepts them as completely true. For most of my life, I have always “known” what is truth and what is not and these all speak truth on a deeper level. My energy seems to increase and my intuitive abilities do as well when I read these or the writings “Unveiled Mysteries” by Guy Ballard.
I posted a couple of new articles on Spalding this month, including for the first time an accurate biography, based on passport records released by the Department of State.
Reader´s last blog ..The many names of Baird T Spalding – Part 2
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