What is the Ageless Wisdom?

The Ageless Wisdom is a body of inner teaching or esoteric knowledge handed down from remote times that has accumulated and has undergone changes in presentation in the passing of time to suit the needs of humanity of a given period or era. It has been called by various names such as the “Mysteries”, “Ancient Wisdom”, “Esoteric teachings”, “Gnost”, “Divine Knowledge”, and “the perennial philosophy”, etc.. It has also been called “Theosophy” by the late Mdme. Helena Blavatsky, a Russian esoteric writer and teacher of the 19th century who reintroduced the Ageless Wisdom into the modern world.

Its “root doctrine” formed the basis of most major world religions. However, the scope of the Ageless Wisdom is not limited to “religious or moral precepts” alone, as we know it now. It encompasses a complete paradigm of existence—a “new” way at looking at the world and reality. It provides answers to the great questions in life—the nature and purpose of life, nature of matter and energy, origin of the universe, the amazing inter-relation of the Deity, solar system, planets and man, nature of divinity and the soul, causes of diseases and sufferings, the hidden forces behind world events and so on. Nobody can get into contact with it without causing powerful changes in one’s life—both in one’s attitudes and life intentions. This makes the Ageless Wisdom magnetic(attractive), revolutionary (transformative) and radioactive (affecting the environment and people).

The seven fields of life are 1. Politics, 2. Education, 3. Communication, 4. the Arts, 5. Science, 6. Religion, 7. Finance and economics. The Ageless Wisdom provides guidance so that we can develop as souls and live as souls in each of these fields.

Sources of information

The Ageless Wisdom is not a religion, formulated by only one authority or teacher. It has existed since time immemorial just as the so called new discoveries of science were already known long before.

Its statements or postulates are based upon:

• “critical and comparative study of earlier spiritual, philosophical or religious systems;

• the discoveries of physical science and quantum physics;

• data obtained by trained superphysical perception;

• illumination resulting from awakened intuition;

• further information supplied by Those who graduated the Schools of Wisdom.”

The body of knowledge is only referred to as “postulates” or simply “propositions” as it is not presented to people as a revelation or dogma and it is neither offered for blind belief, but for examination and judgment. The Ageless Wisdom is not owned by anybody and no dogma, creed or specified belief is ever imposed.

Alice A. Bailey and the Plan

Central to the teachings of the Ageless Wisdom is the concept of the Great Plan. The univese is not following a haphazard path nor did it come into existence without a purpose. There exists a basic Intelligence behind the universe that maintains order and direction and to which we give the name of God.

Alice A. Bailey, author of 24 books on Esoteric philosophy, worked with a Teacher of the Spiritual Hierarchy of the planet for 30 years (1919-1949) to reveal a newer and more advanced presentation of the Ageless Wisdom to the mass of humanity.

The new presentation was revolutionary in nature and its focal point was the exposition of the Plan. Some of the highlights are as follows:

• Service to the Plan is the prime responsibility of all spiritually minded people. The Plan is not some vague or dreamy idealism or religious concept but a blueprint of a new economic, social and political order based on love, truth, justice, equity and cooperation. For the first time, students of the ageless wisdom were encouraged to be actively involved in world affairs and study the various problems confronting humanity.

• Removed the concept of authority (which is Piscean in nature) in the path of discipleship. Due to the incoming Aquarian energies and mental polarization of the planet, the new disciples can be self-taught and the only teacher he has to obey is his own Soul.

• Shift in emphasis of spiritual practices of esoteric students from the purely selfish intentions of progress in personal evolution to that of the planetary perspective of sacrificial service to all of humanity.

• The reapperance of Christ is imminent and only through humanity’s invocative appeal can it work out. Thus the Great Invocation was given out to humanity as a world prayer and invocation to let Light, Love and Power restore the Plan on earth. The reappearance of Christ as used here does not refer to the biblical “armageddon” or “end of the world”, but to the restoration of a Christ consciousness to the planet. If ever the Christ manifests as a person, it will be as a leader or pioneer in an aspect of human existence—be it economics, politics, governance, science, religion or other fields that needs to be liberated from selfishness, greed or materialism.

REFERENCE: Some paragraphs adapted from the "What is Theosophy?" leaflet of the TS