From: jeffjc@cs.mcgill.ca (Jeffrey CHANCE)
Subject: Re: Share International magazine:  July/August 1992 issue
Organization: SOCS - Mcgill University, Montreal, Canada
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 01:01:52 GMT

Raymond Shaw wrote:
>                    #-------------------------------#
>                    |      SHARE INTERNATIONAL      |
>                    |           MAGAZINE            |
>                    #-------------------------------#

Thank you for the post. I found it quite scholarly and for the most
part well informed. But, I still have some problems which I hope you
won't take too personally. Trying to be as open-minded as I can,
I have some points to address below which I hope you will respond
to by post to this newsgroup.

>The magazine has a non-paid staff only, carries no advertisements and is
>published by SHARE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION, a non-profit, non-governmental
>organization in association with the United Nations.

Could you please state the exact nature of your association with 
the U.N. ?

>SHARE INTERNATIONAL has two general editors:  Peter Liefhebber, a Dutch
>journalist concerned with the creation of a new world economic order; and
>Benjamin Creme, British artist, esotericist and author.  His challenging
>message has evoked a world--wide response:  Maitreya, the World Teacher,
>is now among us in full physical presence.

Yes, I have seen ads about this teacher in several magazines several
times now. You don't honestly think that one person will be acknowledged
by the whole world as a source of world guidance, do you? This has never
happened before. Are you saying that world political leaders are going
to act on his direct words? If they just act in the spirit of what he
says, then you cannot claim that Maitreya was the influence.

Also, comments you make later about all religions expecting the
reemergence of a great teacher, imply that Maitreya will be 
God-realized (or God himself). What proof do you have of this?
Psychic prediction of the future, by itself, doesn't qualify.


>
>(The Master -- is a senior member of the Hierarchy of the Masters of Wisdom;
>His name, well-known in esoteric circles, is not yet being revealed 
>for various reasons.
>Benjamin Creme is in constant telepathic contact with this Master who
>dictates His articles to him.)

Sorry, never heard of this Hierarchy. Did you create it?


>
>
>SI:  I believe that all of these phenomena are very much connected. 
>I think the appearance of the Teacher, the crop circles, the UFOs,
>are all working together to raise the
>consciousness of humanity. That's my opinion.
>
>CA:  It's one that I share totally.  We are living in special times. 

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say that the above paragraph
could all be true. However, this will to my knowledge be the first case
of a God-realized leader working in conjunction with UFOs, the concept
of which, to be honest, I laugh at.



>
>QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
>
>Any questions dealing with the activities of Maitreya and the Hierarchy of the
>Masters of the Wisdom, and about the Ageless Wisdom Teachings, which have not
>been answered in the book The Reappearance of the Christ and the Masters of
>Wisdom or in Maitreya's Mission are answered in this section by Benjamin
>Creme.
>        Send your written questions to:  Share International/Questions, 59
>Dartmouth Park Road, London, NW5 1SL, UK.


>
>Q.  Do animals have souls?
>
>A.  Individually, no.  Animals are expressions of a group soul -- there is the
>soul which is 'cat', or 'dog', or 'horse' or 'camel', but they do not have
>individualized souls in the way humans have. 

You know, I have to give you credit, I agreed with much of the content
of the previous questions and answers. But not for this. Are you not
aware that there are a large number of Eastern spiritual texts and
books written by Spiritual masters which state that the individual soul
evolves through the mineral, plant, animal, human and finally back to the
Source? Of course, they could be wrong, and my belief in their
description also wrong. All I'm saying is that this response makes it
hard for me to buy your package in its entirety.




>BACKGROUND INFORMATION
>
>All the great religions posit the idea of a further revelation to be given by
>a future Teacher.  Christians hope for the return of the Christ, the Buddhists
>look for the coming of another Buddha (the Lord Maitreya), while Muslims await
>the Imam Mahdi, the Hindus a reincarnation of Krishna, and the Jews the
>Messiah.
>        Students of the esoteric tradition know all these as different names
>for the same individual -- the Lord Maitreya, the World Teacher, the head of
>the Spiritual Hierarchy of Masters, and they look for His imminent return now.

Does Maitreya believe that all followers of the above mentioned
religions are going to acknowledge Maitreya as the one they have been
waiting for?


>
>Maitreya's spiritual teaching:  Maitreya does not intend to build a new
>religion around Himself, nor to create followers, but to teach humanity "the
>art of Self-realization".  The first steps are "honesty of mind, sincerity of
>spirit and detachment."  Maitreya's social concern is reflected in His list of
>priorities:  an adequate supply of the right food, adequate housing and 
>shelter for all, healthcare and
>education as a universal right.  His social message can
>be summarized in a few words:  "Share and save the world."  Maitreya knows we
>will accept His advice and that we are on the threshold of an era of peace and
>goodwill.

Eastern spiritual masters have been teaching the art of Self-realization
now for some time. 




>more and more people will have proof of His
>presence and demand media response.
>Maitreya expects this approach to lead to the Day of Declaration, when He will
>leave no doubt that He is the World Teacher.  

Well, I still want to say your post had a lot of insight in many ways.
90% of it I have no problem with. 10% of it I don't agree with. 
Normally this wouldn't be a problem. But the nature of the 10% has
prompted me to respond here. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A WORLD
LEADER FOR EVERYBODY. If I'm wrong, I'll be the first to come to
your organization and give you $500. I mean it. If this person
comes to be internationally recognized as a guiding light for
the world, I swear on God I'll send your organization a cheque
for $500 to support your work.

Assuming this person actually physically exists right now, how
are you sure he is God-realized (or God himself)? How do you
know that, just because he may have great insight into things,
may have some psychic abilities, that he is still not within
the cycle of death and rebirth (a concept I assume you
acknowledge, from the spiritual commentary in your post).

Please respond in this group, _and_, again, I'm not out to
totally put your good intentions for world peace down. Not
at all. Maybe your responses to my questions above will
clear some of this up.


Jeff
--------------------------------------------------------------
|    Jeff Chance                       | That to which you   |
|    Dept. of Chemistry                | give your attention |
|    McGill University, Montreal       | becomes stronger in |
|    MAIL: jeffjc@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca | your life.          |
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Newsgroups: talk.religion.newage