Gordon Collier's three-volume Make Your Own World (1960) illustrates even more sharply the penetration of the metaphysics and philosophies of the East into the consciousness of the West —emphasizing the "power within," the "divinity of man," and his innate immortality, along with reincarnation, spiritualistic phenomena, and the like.
In volume one Collier refers approvingly to certain of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale's teachings as "closer to the metaphysical ideas I have presented here than any other orthodox preacher in America today." 1 In this initial volume there are many helpful health and success hints—principally, however, through self-help. But in volume two after disposing of the devil by saying that Satan is simply "the sum total of the mortal minds and wills on this earth as opposed to the Will and Mind of God," 2 and making several allusions to the contributions of Spiritualist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Collier launches forthrightly into a section dealing with "Cosmic Consciousness," the "Universality of God," and "Reincarnation," or "The Mystery of Life's Cycle," as stressed, for example, by the international Society of Seekers of the Truth. And it is to be noted that "Healing Through Vibration" is tied in therewith.'
1. Nectar of immortality and union with God.—Collier then turns unabashedly, in chapter nine, to the mysteries of the East, and presents Paramhansa Yogananda, who wrote Metaphysical Meditations, Cosmic Chants, and Whispers From Eternity.' The yogis are discussed, and "soul liberation" and "divine bliss through voodo," and the assertion is made:
"Yoga has produced, in every age in India, men who are truly free, true YogiChrists."'
Collier then cites Swami ("master," "religious teacher") Sivananda on "spiritual energy," and the "Nirvikalpa," "the state of super-consciousness," "the Goal of Life," with "supreme peace and infinite, indestructible bliss." Then follows Swami's telltale statement, "The Yogic student drinks the nectar of immortality." And further, "Yoga is the Science that teaches the method of joining the human spirit with God."
2. Tie-in with Ancient "Masters" and Theosophy.—Chapter ten is devoted to the Rosicrucians, the "Mysteries of the Egyptians," and the ancient wonders in which the "Old Meets the New." 9 Collier cites them as saying, "There is only a single soul in the universe, which they term the universal soul or universal consciousness of God. Each of us possesses a part of the universal soul." Again, "The human mind can travel from the body to far-off places and witness the events happening there." "
Collier then comes, in chapter twelve, to "Astara and the New Age," which is inseparably tied in with "Mediums and the Development of Mediumship." " The "Brotherhood" and "Church" of Astara is described as a "Modern Mystery School, teaching ancient wisdom under the direct guidance of Masters" of the Spirit, using "trumpet mediumship" and trance techniques. Such masters are alleged to "leave behind their physical bodies and travel in the astral to Astara." "They seek to lead souls to the "Gateway of Initiation." Their followers are called Astrians. These include "Master Teachers" such as "Rama," from the Gobi Desert, and "Kut-Hu-Mi," of ibet, "who helped establish Theosophy." 1" Also named are "Doctor Teachers,- and "Philosophers," such as "Pythagoras.' and "Plato"—as well as "Master Jesus." " Let us pause to scrutinize Theosophy, here mentioned, and observe its characteristics and claims and its operating principles.
3. Thesophy—Immotality by Evolution Through Incarnation.—It should ever be remembered that Theosophy is an esoteric religion, or philosophy, based on the claim of special occult insight into divine nature—intuitive knowledge and direct communications transmitted by Mahatmas, or sages. It is of distinctly Eastern origin, and is Buddhistic and Hinduistic in theology. It derives its teachings from the Indian Sacred Books. In its modern form it was founded in 1875 by Russian-born Helena Petrova Blavatsky (d. 1891), who sought out and correlated the mystic in Tibet, India, and Egypt. Her leading work, The Secret Doctrine, three volumes, is a classic among Western Theosophists. It is claimed that she had transcendent psychic powers.
Her successor in America was Annie Ward Besant (d. 1933), who declared man to be a "spark of Divinity encased in Matter." She believed in reincarnation, wrote of the "seven planes of progression," on the way to the Happy State, and of absorption of soul and personality into the World Soul. She likewise held a pantheistic view of deity—a distinctly Hinduistic and Buddhistic characteristic.
Theosophy teaches an immortality based on evolution by reincarnation. Mrs. Hesant wrote that we all have "innate Divinity . . . so that in time all men become Christ." " The brotherhood of initiates were to be scattered all over the world—West as well as East. This is being done. The heart of Theosophy is the doctrine of Karma—the Way, or Path, toward enlightenment and emancipation. It is defined as the "cyclic process of emanation and evolving ascension," or ascending the astral way by the aid of "secret divine wisdom." That is Theosophy. It is clearly a grafting of pagan Eastern thought upon the West. Its international headquarters are at Adyar, India.
4. Avowed Purpose is to Prove Spiritualism.—Collier then comes, in sequence, to the important "Master Hilarion"—this Master who (allegedly) fostered the movement of Spiritualism over a hundred years ago." In a claimed materialization, "Hilarion," working through Astara, gave this frank statement of purpose that none can gainsay:"My purpose has been, for many years now, to bring to the minds of men, through the religion of Spiritualism, a greater knowledge of immortality; to prove, chiefly through psychic phenomena, the existence of other worlds around you; to prove that those who have stepped out of their physical bodies and live on in the spirit realms can return to prove the immortality of the soul. . .
"My major concern has been to prove that your immediate family lives on after the transition called death. Bringing Spiritualism into reality has been my goal." 18
He declared that he devotes himself to "establishing a universal belief in psychic phenomena,"" and designated "Robert" to "demonstrate communication with the world of spirit."' Such language admits of no misunderstanding. Such connections and relationships are inconcealable. It is the lie of Eden boldly reasserted. It is unmitigated Spiritualism, which we have discussed in depth.
5. Astara—Blending of All Religions.—After touching on the "mighty Law of Karma," Collier reverts again to Master Rama, from the Gobi Desert, who declares to the Astarians:
"Astara is a home of all religions. Holding to no exoteric dogma, Astara embraces the exoteric teachings of all religions. Astara follows after the leadership of Jesus, but pays reverent homage to the Saints of all religions."
That specifically includes the Eastern occult.
Rama also dwells on a "Yogic exercise" for "spiritual power." Then there is Zo-Ser, of Egyptian antiquity, purportedly "once a ruler of Egypt," gifted with the "powers of healing," stressing the "great Cosmic Sun," " and with counsel to the "Disciples of the Flame." And along with these are other emissaries from the "realms of spirit,- who bring "sensitized vibrations.-
After a chapter (14) on "Psychiana." the "mail-order religion," and its "I talked with" key phrase, founded by Frank Robinson in 1929, and boasting a phenomenal spread,' Collier notes in chapter 15 how the late Douglas K. DeVorss (d. 1953) built up one of America's largest "metaphysical publishing houses.- the "largest metaphysical book wholesaler in the world"—with six thousand retail outlets, emphasizing "Unity," for example, and publishing such works as Spalding's Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East, already noted.
This work of DeVorss, Collier says, has now made Los Angeles the "metaphysical hub of the world." DeVorss printed more than one thousand different books for the "metaphysically-minded."'
In Collier's volume three, with its "Light from the East," extensive excerpts from Spalding appear. Here he "quotes" the purported materialized "Jesus" as saying that "God is divine," so "Man, His true son, horn in His image and likeness, is as truly divine as the Father is divine." Further, that "this divinity is the true Christ that every man sees and perceives, as in himself and in all of God's children."' That is the other of the twin lies of Eden.
It is therefore obvious that penetrations of the pagan occultism of the East are aggressively permeating and intermingling with the metaphysicism of the West—both being based on the common denominator of Spiritualism's contentions of the divinity of man, the immortality of the soul, and the return of the disembodied spirits of the dead. Thus the net is being woven that is destined to ensnare all who are not rooted and grounded in the writings of the Inspired Word as to the true origin, nature, and destiny of man. Let us in closing note just one more case of this Eastern occult establishment on 'Western soil, frequently noted by Collier—that of Unity.
6. Unity—Reincarnations Result in Immortality.—The Unity School of Christianity was founded in 1889 by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, and is really a cross between New Thought and Christian Science. It relies on the power of the press and speaks through millions of tracts, pamphlets, and magazines. It now claims two million members, with "five million readers for its various periodicals." It is America's biggest "mail-order religion." It is eclectic_______ drawing from all faiths and philosophies, particularly the Eastern. The Fillmores studied New Thought, Theosophy, Rosicrucianism. Christian Science, Spiritualism. and Hinduism. Unity was the result—a complex of ancient concepts but moving in a new direction.
Fillmore, who had been "healed" by Christian Science, launched a journal in 1889 called Modern Thought. In 1890 it was changed to Christian Science Thought, which title was protested by Mary Baker Eddy. So it continued simply as Thought. But its affinity is more the New Thought, with current emphasis increasingly on health, prosperity, and happiness. It finally developed into a church or sect.
But let us peer into the heart of Unity. It teaches that all thought goes back to God, who is impersonal "Principle, Law, Being, Mind, Spirit, All Good, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Unchangeable, Creator, Father, Cause, and Source of all that is." In the Mind is found the "meeting ground for man and God." Man is declared to be a son of God, filled with Christ-consciousness. God exercises His attributes "through the inner consciousness of the universe and man." A true spiritual body replaces the physical body when man actually becomes like Christ. This transformation takes place through a series of reincarnations and regenerations.
Unity helpfully stresses avoidance of anything that injures the body, encouraging good health habits. But it reduces Jesus to the level of a mere man, who had within him the "perfect Christ idea," and declares "the same Christ idea is in every man." So all men are miniature Christs. But it boldly teaches reincarnation—resulting in immortality. Note it:
We believe that the dissolution of spirit, soul and body, caused by death, is annulled by rebirth of the same spirit and soul in another body here on earth. We believe the repeated incarnation of man to he a merciful provision of our loving Father to the end that all may have the opportunity to attain immortality through regeneration, as did Jesus. "This corruptible must put on incorruption."29
This too is a thoroughly pagan Eastern occult view, which has successfully penetrated the West, and is widely professed. A glance at the church services pages of most Sunday newspapers discloses the number and the variety of the occult groups locally.
7. Significance of "Great Light" From the "East"—Collier closes volume three by adverting again to Egypt's "Great Pyramid," and its measurement "forecasts," calling it a matchless "Bible in Stone," with the story told forth in The Miracle of the Ages. The Pyramid is eulogized as embodying an "imposing list of prophecies of historical events."' That is the parting glimpse of Collier's portrayal of the "Great Light in (and from) the East." "
Such are some of the tangibles concerning the invading occult forces from the East. When adopted by those who are responsive in the West, they form a sinister union of grave proportions and involving fatal consequences. This far-flung occult movement from the East, now under way, is an incontrovertible omen of impending end events as set forth in God's prophesied course of human history, already noted. Principles of light and darkness will soon engage in earth's final spiritual struggle. The legions are now forming and the battle lines are now being drawn. Knowledge of Bible truth and firm adherence thereto are imperative if we are not to become confused by these siren voices and occult wonders, and thus be misled by deception into catastrophe. Only those who have their feet established firmly on the immutable rock of Holy Scripture will be safe from the rising tide and swirling eddies of the subtleties of the East, destined soon to engulf a large segment of mankind in ruin.
FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES
1 Gordon Collier, Make Your Own World, vol. 1 (4th ed., 1960) p. 48
2 vol. 2, p.15.
3 Ibid., p. 47.
4 Ibid., p. 48.
5 Ibid., pp. 85, 96, 99. Yoga, an Indian philosophy, is a technique or system of discipline by which the human soul may professedly attain permanent union with the Supreme Spirit by contemplation and concentration. It stresses the dualistic doctrine of the separativeness of matter and spirit, and holds that at first every spirit was individually eternal. It sets forth eight stages in the process, climaxing with complete liberation, and with matter and spirit wholly apart. The yogis are reported to have marvelous powers. with knowledge of past and future. But the ultimate is attained only through a succession of rebirths. There is now, however, in some quarters a tendency to substitute a system of health culture for the original teachings.
6 Ibid., p. 99.
7 Ibid., p. 102.
8 Ibid., p. 105.
9 Ibid., pp. 106-113.
10 /bid., pp. 111, 112.
11 Ibid., p. 118.
12 Ibid., p. 119.
13 Ibid., pp. 120-122.
14 Ibid., pp. 123-125.
15 Annie Ward Besant, Man's Life in Three Woilds (1919). p. 3.
16 ___ , Is Theosophy Anti-Christian? p. 16.
17 Collier, op. cit., vol. 2.
18 Ibid., p. 126 (italics mine).
19 Ibid.
20 Ibid., p. 127.
21 Ibid., pp. 127, 128 (italics mine).
22 Ibid., p. 131.
23 Ibid., p. 132.
24 Ibid., p. 134.
25 Ibid., pp. 145-148.
26 Ibid., pp. 149-153.
27 Ibid., vol. 3, pp. 112-117 (italics mine).
28 Metaphysical Bible Dictionary (Unity), School of Christianity. Kansas City, Mo., p. 629.
29 Unity Statement of Faith, Art. 22 (italics mine).
30 Collier, op. cit., vol. 3, pp. 199, 200.
31Ibid., p. 201.
Note: For comparison the following extracts from recent Indian Masters concerning man, God, immortality, reincarnation, et cetera, reveal the Indian concept of the godship of man and the immortality of the soul.
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA "Chit, the soul, is the same as God" (Inspired Talks [1938], p. 116). "You are God, and whatever else you may think is wrong" (p. 120). "The highest worship there is, is to worship man, for example, men like Krishna, Buddha, and Christ" (p. 150). "We can have no conception of God higher than man; so our God is man and man is God" (p. 79). "The soul is the unity of all personalities, and because it is at rest, eternal, unchangeable; it is God Atam ["the life principle, the universal Ego whence all individual selves arise"] (p. 60). "Fearlessness is not possible as long as we have even God over us; we must be God" (p. 101).
SWAMI RAMAKRISHANANDA: "Studying man's nature, we can see that he cannot but be immortal and eternal. . . . Hence the Rishis [sages] of India have written that the soul is not transitory, that it does not disappear after death with the body. . . . It is Sachchidananda, eternal, all knowing" (The Message of Eternal Wisdom [1938], p. 63). "As no action is possible without a body and a mind, the soul must have had a similar body and mind previous to the present embodied condition" (p. 102). "We must have to take up bodies after bodies until we shall be able to realize our all-perfect nature" (p. 103). "This eternal and infinite Soul goes by the name of God" (p. 106). "Man lives in the world, while the soul lives in man or in any other living organism, whether animal, celestial or infernal. Man has birth and death, but the soul takes countless births and dies as many times" (p. 152). "Our scriptures teach us that the greatest sin is to call a man a sinner" (p. 191). "So life cannot be transformed into death, nor death into life. Therefore if man is living, he cannot die" (p. 194).
"Christ realized the Kingdom of Heaven inside himself. If that Kingdom is inside you. God is inside yourself. . . . The process taught both by Moses and Christ, therefore, was also the same as that taught by Sankara and others. You must go inside yourself to realize God. The same thing was preached later by Mohammet" (p. 12). "Thus, after analysing the various religions of the world, we see that . . . they all lead to the same goal. . . . There are as many paths leading to God as there are individuals in the Universe. Every man has to select his own path" (p. 18). "Buddha realized Nirvana inside himself. Christ has taught: 'The Kingdom of God is within you.' . . Mohammad saw God in the seventh Heaven . . and so he must have seen Him inside himself" (p. 168).
SIR RAMAKRISHNA: "A man's rebirth is determined by what he has been thinking about just before death" (Sayings of Sir Ramakrishna [1943]. p. 37). "An imperfect man, has to be born again and again until he becomes a Siddha [one who has attained perfection]" (p. 38).
