Humanity is on the threshold of what may be considered a milestone in human history. Many signposts have been set along the way, beginning with the prophets of old who warned mankind of dire calamities if it did not mend its ways. Sodom and Gomorrah, destroyed by a natural cataclysm, are good examples of the immanent justice of the law of cause and effect, the law of Karma. All these cataclysms, earthquakes and other natural disasters, are but the consequence of a materialistic and selfish approach to life, amplified by all the misconceptions we have, concerning the earth, nature, and the animals that dwell within it. They are the direct consequence of a collective consciousness of negativity that pollutes both the spiritual and physical atmosphere of the world it inhabits. We are One unit, intimately linked with nature, and whatever happens in our own body when it is out of tune, also happens within nature, when a whole society turns to materialism, pollution and depravation. Is it any wonder, then, that the earth, spiritually, mentally and physically polluted by its inhabitants, is now in the first stages of a long and arduous cleansing process?

Now the die is cast, and humanity has set its irrevocable course towards the New Age. Although the birthing process will be long and painful, we must look forward, to the wonderful opportunities the changes will bring us, in this new world that will rise from the ashes of the old one.

Here I see the misstatements in all the written languages, from the Arabic to the Hebrew, made to those, who seek in words the meaning of life. When Moses, in his wisdom, sought the mountain, he there saw, before him, the energy of God, the God-Force of all Infinitude, which now focuses upon, and within, your picture of life, and which we, in our acceptance of your sincerity, have brought towards your machines of earth. ...Yet, there is little understanding in the blind acceptance of Moses' Ten Commandments. There is not the understanding, that the commands refer only to the thought forces, generated within the human structure, where negative thought destroys the basic elements of all life, the very cellular structure of your body. So, sitting in the insecurity of all life, not knowing, not understanding that, in yourself, you are the Universe, you destroy the very potential of life, not only within yourself, but within the world.
Excerpts from TALKS WITH CHRIST, by Elwood Babbitt and Chs. H. Hapgood

Social life is intimately linked with the religious, and economic, life of a country, as it is the common ground, where people can express themselves, in a human jungle, where, in the pursuit of pleasure and power, money has become the Golden Calf of our fears and misconceptions of life. In a world so intent on materialism, money and power have become the ultimate goal and weapon, and, to reach this goal, men will resort to any means and any schemes, regardless of those who may be hurt, or destroyed, in the process.

In these times of doubts, uncertainties and fears, prayer, not repetitive prayer, but prayer from the soul, is the link between humanity and its Creator, the lighthouse that will light the way for the Prodigal Son, on his way back to His Father's House. Jesus gave us the only true prayer, the 'Our Father,' but a childish humanity has distorted it, and it has become another repetitive incantation, for lack of understanding the true meaning behind the words. These words still vibrate in our days, as they did a long, long time ago:

We are the Sons and the Daughters of the First Principle, and, through this kinship, we have been given access to all the good things in life. However, the prodigal sons and daughters, that we are, have lost sight of their Father's Kingdom, and we have forgotten, that, being made in His Image and His Likeness, we all have the same powers and attributes. We look to God as a child looks to his father of the earth. Tiny as he is, the child looks up to his father and he says to himself: "Isn't my father tall? Isn't he powerful and strong? And I feel so secure in his arms! And he can protect me! And I love him so much!" Soon, the child becomes a mature man. He looks, again, at his father, and he sees his reflection. Nothing has changed between them, but the perception they have of each other. The son is now as strong and as powerful as the father. He has the same rights and the same attributes, and he can do all the things his father does. He loves him just the same, but he doesn't need to be protected anymore. He is now an equal. He has reached his majority.

So it is with our Heavenly Father. Now we are the little tots who look up to an inscrutable and mysterious God for guidance and protection. Once we grow in understanding, and recognize our divinity, not only in thought but in action, we realize that the protection and the guidance are within; that we are equal to the Father, with the same rights and the same attributes. We have attained our majority. We are, indeed, in the Father as the Father is within us.

We live in a world of advanced technological development, where the robot is gradually replacing the human factor, and, due to these changes, our ways of life are drastically transformed, and not always for the better, as robotics is based, not on the ultimate welfare of mankind, but rather on greed and profit. Civilizations have progressed and declined throughout the ages, and it is a fact that every time nations of the world began to reflect a materialistic approach to life, they also began to decline, and they disappeared, one after the other. Unfortunately, we are not the exception. This civilization has sunken so deep into materialism that, as in the times of Moses, it has forgotten its divine roots, and built the Golden Calf, that will bring about the downfall of humanity.

Social life is the first step towards universality, as it brings people together in a unity of fraternity and purpose. This interaction gives them the opportunity, to experience life in a context of promiscuity, where they can work out the karmic problems of previous lives (as you sow, so shall you reap), and progress ever higher, on the evolutionary path leading to the God-Head. Chauvinism and parochialism do not have their place in a society that prides itself on being evolved and civilized. Even if for cultural purposes, any form of patriotism, or nationalism, that advocates a policy of isolation, goes against the main objective of our earth incarnation, that of becoming one people, in a unity of body, soul and spirit.

This multiplicity of languages and cultures, whose origin goes back to the symbolic legend of the Babel Tower, is but the product of the ego, or false personality, of the human species, who seems to take pleasure in, and feel secure within, these self-imposed limitations. These are of karmic origin, of course, and, even though they represent a negative aspect of spirituality, they have their raison d'etre in the evolutionary process of mankind. True language is the communication from spirit to spirit (telepathy), and this obsession, innate in some people, to protect their language and culturecultural, is but a refusal to recognize the necessity of change and the interrelationship and unity of all life. Limiting ourselves to one specific language, or culture, will only delay the time when there will be but one language, and one people, thus forming a true human brotherhood of spirit, of which America is the prototype. It is not without reason, that E PLURIBUS UNUM was chosen as the watchword of the American people, and this unity out of multiplicity, represented by a cosmopolitan America, has brought together millions of people of all races, and creeds, and colors, in a unity of purpose, that heralds the New World and the New Renaissance of mankind.

Up to a certain point, one can understand that need of people to protect what they believe to be rightfully theirs. However, isolation is not the best solution, as we have seen with the schisms that have divided Christianity and other religious beliefs of the world, resulting in a multiplicity of religions, isolated one from the other, and defending a personal Deity whom they believe to be the only true God. And yet, that God is an intrinsic part of each of us, and when his children tear each other apart, they tear Him apart too.

Some will say that religion has nothing to do with culture, but, there again, it is because humanity refuses to recognize that we are One, and whatever undermines that unity, is not conducive to the ultimate goal and mission of life. Once again, one can sympathize with those who want a greater autonomy with regard to their language and culture, but they cannot shut themselves away in an ivory tower, from which they exclude whatever can threaten the erroneous conception they hold, with regard to culture, language and religion. This form of segregation, that raises invisible barriers, and divides humanity into hundreds of nations, all different one from the other, is not limited to patriotism and nationalism, and it also is a part of our daily activities. Social status that encourages systems of caste, and disproportionate ambition that creates social inequalities, these, too, are very subtle forms of segregation, and, combined with the difficulty and unpredictability of personal relationships between individuals, they become very strong incentives, and they are the reason for the many separations, divorces, murders, rapes and suicides, that gradually increase, as we reach the apex of the transformational cycle that began around 1934-36, if we give credence to the Edgar Cayce's (the American medium and psychic diagnostician) files on world's evolution.

And this state of things was prevalent, even in the times of Jesus, when there were social unrest and rebellion against the Romans who ruled the land. The Jews were overburdened by high taxes and unemployment, just as we are now, and there were quarrels among them as to their own allegiance, because many of the nobility, and the clergy, were on a, more than friendly, basis with the conqueror. Just as we find in our own society, social status was very important, and one was prone to make concessions, if it meant an improved lifestyle. This did not help to eliminate crime, and the streets of these times were no safer than our own, and there were rapes, murders and highway robberies. Stonings and crucifixions, always attracted their usual mob of curious, who enjoyed the sigh of bloodshed, or broken bones. And these were religious people who paid the tithe and attended church services. They were the Pharisees who looked down on the publicans, and did not hesitate to stone, or crucify, anyone who did not comply with their rules, religious beliefs, or ways of life.

The conquerors were no better, and the fall of the Roman Empire came as no surprise, to those who witnessed the selfishness, cruelty, and depravation of the upper classes, who starved the people, wallowed in endless orgies, and witnessed the death of gladiators, and the martyr of Christians in the arenas, as if it were a chariot's race. They were no more their brother's keepers, they were their brother's executioners, and they enjoyed it. In 64 A.D., Nero, the pyromaniac and insane emperor, could burn Rome as he wished, while his entourage remained silent, and did nothing to stop him. And, of course, the blame fell on Christians, who were accused of this crime, and persecuted in the most despicable way. As related in the history books, it took a revolt of the people, to put an end to such an insanity, and history tells us that the tyrant, fearing the fate they had in store for him, chose the easiest way out, and decided to put an end to his own life.

The days of the Inquisition have left their indelible mark on Christianity. The intolerance and cruelty of the Church, towards those who did not comply with its rules, have destroyed forever its credibility. In spite of all the hardships, plagues and famines of the past centuries, the lesson did not bear fruits, and the intolerance of the past is still rampant in today's Christian religiosity. Even though the Church no more resorts to torture to subdue dissidents, it still has excommunication. The mental torture suffered by all those who are constrained to defy its laws, is more detrimental to the human spirit, than all the physical tortures suffered in the dark donjons of the Inquisition.

In the mind of those who witnessed World War Two, Hitler has become the symbol of evil. Quite eager to further his plans of conquest, the german people realized, but much too late, they had unleashed the seven plagues of Egypt on their unfortunate country. The slaughter of millions of Jews, supposedly to purify the german blood, and create a new Aryan race, was the most despicable project a country could undertake. This atrocity was made possible, because of the apathy of the German people, and the lack of concern of other nations of the world, who only decided to do somethin about it, when it was too late to prevent the holocaust. Had the rest of the world raised a general outcry against the slaughtering of Jews, as they did against the Apartheid in South Africa, and Irak's occupation of Koweit, the German people would have awakened from its lethargy, and thrown out the demented ruler, and his devoted followers, before it was too late.

Now the Jewish people, or at least many of them, have returned to the land of their forefathers. Unfortunately, they have not learned their lesson, and we now find the Middle-East in a constant state of war. Israel resents the slaughtering of millions of its own people in World War Two, but its soldiers did not hesitate to destroy a Palestinian village and kill its inhabitants, even if it is true that Palestinians do the same. Whether you kill six, sixty or six million people, the crime remains the same. Of course, the physical impact is minimal compared to the Holocaust but, in the eyes of God, one of His children is as important as six million of them, because we are all, individually, an intrinsic part of His Creative Force. Even after forty-five years, Israel and other countries still pursue war criminals in a spirit of what they call 'justice,' but God is not mocked, and the truth is, they cannot 'forgive those who trespassed against them'. And the slaughter will continue, until they can find, within their own hearts, the spirit of forgiveness, and do to others what they would like others to do to them. And of course, they are not the only ones, and the same advice applies to the Palestinian, Arab and Lebanese soldiers and leaders, and those of all other countries, who bring war and destruction throughout the world. The Middle-East conflict did not end with the liberation of Koweit and the defeat of Irak, and Saddam's holy war, did not die with the last Scud missile. Revolt is still brewing up in that part of the world, and the fanatism of some religious groups might well set fire, once again, to a region and a continent that has been unstable for decades. Holy wars are the most despicable of wars, because the protagonists proclaim themselves as champions of faith, when they are, purely and simply, champions of their own erroneous principles, ignorance and false perceptions of God. Under the cover of religion, and supposedly to defend that God, they have been rising up, brother against brother, for thousands of years, and this genocide will go on, until they finally understand, that we all have the same Father, and we are all, equally, His children.

All great religions of the world have committed the sin of pride, and it has been their greatest mistake to proclaim themselves, individually, as the sole depository of faith, and only representative of God on earth, when, in reality, man is his own intermediary and his own savior. The stubbornness of religions, and their relentlessness to champion faith, added to the fanatism of the faithful ,who follow to the letter, the teachings of their leaders, and whatever they find in their own scriptures, show to what extent, humanity has lost contact with His Creator, and how deep is its own ignorance of divine laws. Iran's death sentence against a writer who dared to criticize its sacred books, brings to light the danger of dogmatism, orthodoxy, and all the false concepts, that place religiosity above the divine birthright, and the free-will, of all individuals.

Gandhi's doctrine, according to which, love, charity and non-violent resistance, must be the directing principle of humanity, is the only way to end all wars across the world, for, if you turn the other cheek, you take away the most powerful ammunition, your own antagonism. Jesus taught non-violence, and he reproved the use of weapons. When they came to his defense at Gethsemani, he remonstrated the disciples, and replaced the soldier's ear that had been cut by one of them.

In spite of recent events in the Eastern countries, the removal of the Berlin wall, and a lessening of the tension between the two great world powers, it is not yet the end of conflicts in the Middle East and in the world. Of course, there have been talks of disarmament, and treaties have been signed, but violence brings violence, and there will be no lasting peace on earth, until hate disappears from the heart of men, and all weapons are destroyed. We are confronted with the powers of evil, and the complexity of a system, that does not recognize the true values of life. War has become a very lucrative source of income, and, under the pretext of patriotism, we spend hundreds of billions of dollars on armaments, when all this money could be used for an ecological war, that would eradicate pollution, and return nature to its original state. It could also be used to establish a system of social justice, where each of God's children would do his share for the community in which he lives, and, by the same token, for all the inhabitants of the planet. The dynamics of love is such that, when a country lives in peace and harmony, that country is surrounded with a protective shield stronger than nuclear missiles, and more effective than all the armies of the world. It is not sheer utopianism. It is simply the workings of a natural law that mankind has forgotten.

It is most unfortunate that the fate of the planet is in the hands of a few individuals; that our security and peace of mind ae proportional to our stock of armaments, and rest on the threat of nuclear warfare and massive embargoes on imports and exports. During the last american electoral campaign, one of the candidates spoke highly of the american system of defence, even recommending an even stronger build-up of arms and defensive weapons. How can we speak of peace and disarmament with such a threat, And how can we convince other countries to disarm, when we, ourselves, are preparing for war.

In order to maintain diplomatic relations and trade with other countries, we sell them the weapons that may one day destroy another country, and nothing says this country could not be our own. The sale of arms, is a very dangerous path to follow. Far from contributing to world peace, arms manufacturers are only increasing earth's negativity, and humanity finds itself on a keg of powder that can explode at any moment. Both sides have reduced their stock of armaments, but there is still enough to destroy part of the planet, which may very well occur in the coming earth years. Should we blame one person, or group of persons, in particular? The fact is that we are all to blame, as the heart of America, and of the rest of the world, beats to the rythm of materialism, and to many Americans, Europeans, Africans, Australians and Asians, the tinkling sound of a dollar has more value than friendship and brotherhood.

In a much broader perspective of reincarnational process, humanity should have profited by the lessons of the past, of all these wars that never settled anything, only remembering these atrocities should never be repeated again. We have all lived before, and we have had many lives on this planet. Our present incarnation is the proof that we still have lessons to learn, and mistakes to correct. We have been part of the numerous civilizations that have reincarnated in the course of centuries, and we have been the instigators and the protagonists of many a conflict. Some have fought in the Crusades, and, no doubt, they have slaughtered many of those that were called 'infidels'. Others have participated in the numerous inquisitions, torturing all those who did not follow the directives of the Church, and many are those of the present generation, who joined the ranks of the Third Reich, and the S.S., in the Hitlerian Germany. They too, participated in the tracking down of millions of jews and their elimination in the gas chambers.

War must be despised, as it is against God's Law, and armed conflicts have never settled the fundamental problems of humanity. Until hate, greed and intolerance, are removed from our consciousness, there will be wars, social unrest and famines throughout the world. It is the eternal battle between good and evil, this immoderate attraction we have for possessions and riches, for humanity has not yet understood, that all the riches of the world, are nothing, compared to the divine abundance that burst forth, eternally, from the inexhaustible supply of God, and is there for the taking. I suppose it all started, when the first cavemen carved the first cudgel for hunting purposes, and ended up banging each other's head, and starting the first fight in the history of mankind. Consequence of man's egotism and intolerance, this antagonism has been perpetuated throughout the ages, and if man's warring instinct has found a natural outlet in war, it has, also, found a more subtle one in hunting. And it has never been more obvious than in our days where, no longer a necessity of life, the killing of wild animals has become a very lucrative sport, and is practiced by men and women alike. The obvious pleasure and excitement of some hunters in wait, reveal the true motive of their expedition, which is, more often than not, a trip of relaxation and an occasion to show their skill and bring back a coveted trophy. Of course, it is always dangerous to generalize, and it is possible, that some of these hunters will hunt simply because they love the meat of wild animals. However, most of them, would do well to reconsider their own values of life, and ask themselves, if their instinct of warriors, does not supersede their instinct of provider. And it is certainly not a question of economy, as the cost of one pound of wild meat ,is more than ten times the cost of any meat we find on our tables.

The hunting parties of the nobility, and rich landowners of the past and present, are even more cruel. The victim is chosen in advance, and the poor animal is then set loose, only to be pursued and tired out by a pack of dogs, before receiving the coup de grâce of the hunters. This sport has been perpetuated through the centuries, and there are those, who still have, in their blood, this thirst for excitement of their forefathers, thirst which, in fact, is the remembrance of their own past lives. This is one of the pitfalls of civilization, where progress and development, lead us away from our goal, and the further we stray away from the path, the less we understand our interrelationship with nature, and with all the animals that live within it. Those who have seen the film The Planet of the Apes, have certainly noticed, that, unlike the apes, the gorillas did not care very much for human lives, and they were shocked at their cruelty and their unconcern for human lives. And yet, we find it natural to experiment with these same apes and gorillas, and we make a sport of killing animals for the sole pleasure of hunting.

Besides being a cruel sport, hunting encourages the proliferation of offensive weapons, guns, and revolvers, and it serves as an excuse, to keep one, two, or more, weapons in the house, or at the office. Most of the quarrels that end in a bloodshed, are the direct consequence of this proliferation. It is very easy to purchase a gun, or a revolver, either through the normal channel, or on the black market. A deranged mind can easily come by one, and turn it against himself, or society. Although it is a start, strict guns control won't do much to stop crime. It is the total elimination of all weapons that will eradicate war and crime, and bring a lasting peace throughout the world.

Hounded they are by a powerful lobbying, governments prefer to remain on the status quo. They invoke all kinds of political and economic excuses, to delay the adoption of a law, that would limit, if not eliminate, the proliferation of arms and other offensive weapons, and this, under the pretext of protecting individuals' right to own a gun. It is a poor excuse, and it shows, how certain segments of society can manipulate public opinion, and turn the dice in their favor. Any individual who owns a gun becomes a potential threat to society,, because, if he is, to day, a calm, self-controlled, and law-abiding citizen, nothing guarantees that tomorrow, in a fit of anger, or insanity, he won't be tempted to kill members of his family, or perfect strangers. If an individual can coldly aim a gun at a defenseless animal, he has the inner potential to aim it at whoever becomes a threat to him. Not a day passes by, without the news of mass killings, or suicides, and arson has now become an epidemic, that can, eventually, set fire to a whole city.

This does not mean that all those who own a gun are potential criminals, but rather that, by becoming hunters, and giving free rein to their warring instinct, they unleash negative forces that could one day turn against themselves, or society. At any rate, hunting is definitely not a necessity of life. Supermarkets abound in meat of all kinds, that can satisfy the most delicate palate, and there is no shortage of fowl, or red meat No one has the 'intrinsic' right to own a gun, or a revolver, as it is an offensive weapon that can cause death, and God's law is: ¨Thou shall not kill!¨ Far from being a reflection of divine law, the laws of men are quite inadequate in that respect, as they are the reflection of our fears, doubts, and misconceptions of life.

Not so long ago, the Polytechnic School of Montreal has been the scene of the slaughter of fourteen students, all women, who were savagely killed by a deranged youngster, and not so long ago, a 35 year-old man entered a restaurant in the American south-west, killing 22 customers with a rifle, and injuring 20 more, before putting an end to his own life. In the case of the Montreal massacre, there has been, of course, a general outcry and the usual throng of people has filled the church to pay their respect, and pray for the dead. In spite of that general outcry, and a call for gun control, government officials argued it was all very complicated, and there were individual rights to be protected, as if a person could be granted the right to become a threat to others. The officials promised to look into the matter, but, in spite of huge demonstrations in favor of guns control, the story ended there, and after a few days, or a few weeks, life went on as usual. Things are no different in the U.S.A., and the Texan massacre will fall into oblivion before the ink dries on the newspapers that have carried the story.

In politics, the lobbying of big companies is a powerful weapon, and their enormous manpower is a convincing argument. This, added to the fact that our politicians lack courage and determination to take the right decisions, is enough to stall any law for years to come, as the main goal of our governments is to remain in power, and not compromise the next election. Although lobbying is an obstacle to guns control, the real problem is the unconcern, and apathy, of people, who only react to these atrocities, when it happens in their own backyard. The Canadian and Texan massacres are but two examples among many, and all great cities of the world have been, and still are, the scene of such atrocities, which cannot but grow in number, as we approach the end of the twentieth century. No place is safe from the negative vibrations that have invaded the world, and the wars, conflicts, and slaughters of all kinds, are the just reward for the mistakes of a humanity that has forgotten the meaning of love and brotherhood.

Corridas are the remnants of roman games where gladiators fought to the death, and Christians were thrown to the lions to entertain bloodthirsty spectators. The "Ave Caesar! Quo usque morituri te salutam!" of the past, has disappeared, only to be replaced by the "Olé! Olé!" of bullfights, but it is still the same crowd of bloodthirsty spectators, who enjoy the martyr of the innocent. These too, show a total unconcern for life, and they will have to learn to do to others, what they would have others do to them. Man's warring instinct has always been prevalent throughout the ages, but there comes a time when nature gets the upper hand, and mankind may soon have a taste of its own recipe, for, by trying to destroy others, man destroys himself in the process. Now it's his turn to suffer the wrath of his own inner God and Nature, and all those who have defiled the sanctity of the soil, and that of their brothers and sisters of the world, will have to mend their ways, or be removed from the earth, as there will be no place for them in the New World and the New Renaissance of humanity.

In 'LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF THE FAR EAST' by Baird T. Spalding, we read these words:

Nature, carelessly observed, seems to have given brute strength, greed and capacity for shedding weaker animals' blood, but notice the following simple facts that few have thought about.

There are more lambs in the world than lions. That is not an accident. Nature is not a blind blundering thing. Nature is God at work, and God neither wastes material, nor does He blunder in His building. Does it not strike you as a strange thing that, in the melting pot of nature's primal forces, the lion had not eaten up the lamb before man appeared upon the scene.The lamb has litterally whipped the lion in the struggle for existence...

The lion and all other animals whose instinct is to kill are disappearing. There are no exceptions to this sentence of extinction, pronounced by nature's immutable law against all beings of the preying kind. Nature rules according to an eternal equity, and, by the very law of the universe, the fighter fights a losing battle, always has, and always will, whether he be the animal or animal man, in the forest or in the city, now and forever. The lion loses. He loses when he wins, and he dies when he kills. He is, by the very nature of things, eating his own kind when he rends the warm flesh of the lamb he tore from the flock.When the first lion struck his prey with his mighty paw, and growled through his bloody chops the delight he felt, he was singing, not the death of the helpless that he was eating, but the funeral hymn of his own kind. Savagery is a poor rallying point. Lions do not herd. Bears do not go in flock. Savages among men form small groups and fight each other. Wildness turns on its own kind among beasts or men and is a source of weakness.

In the analogy of things wild beasts must go. No great soldier ever really conquered anything. His victories are all illusions. Soldier's empires, if they rest on nothing more substantial than the sword, swiftly fall to pieces. In the end, the soldiers must repudiate force, and resort to justice and reason, or their empires crumble. The beast of prey, whether he is brute or human, is solitary, hopeless and helpless, irrevocably doomed, for gentleness is the real strength. Gentleness is the lion, with all of the lion's attributes, except the taste for blood, and slowly all life is coming beneath its all-conquering rule. Man is made or unmade by himself. In the armory of thought, he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy, strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine Perfection. By the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character and man is their maker and master.

These are the words of Masters, and although they were pronounced at the end of the last century, their wisdom transcends time and space. It is not the objective, here, to quote any book at length, but this excerpt, so well exemplifies the teachings expounded throughout this book, that we felt compelled to include it in this chapter. War is a fallacy. It is useless, and contrary to the universal laws of Order, Balance, Harmony, Growth, God-Perception, Love and compassion.

Segregation is a form of mental terrorism, and it causes more damage than armed conflicts, where the baby-souls of this generation, kill one another, in the name of patriotism and religion. The apartheid of South Africa, which is now slowly coming to an end, is a good example of the intolerance of otherwise good people, who fear the emergence of a powerful black domination. They prefer to keep a very lucrative manpower under their control rather than be engulfed in a cosmopolitan society, where whites and blacks would walk alongside, if not hand in hand.

The law of cause and effect is immutable, and there is, in all this, a lesson for all of us, for we all lived in former times, when the roles were reversed, and today's black, who sweats in the mines of South Africa, may very well be the white of the past, who traveled up and down Africa, in search of slaves, that he sold, afterwards, in various markets of the world. These are the karmic ties of the past, resurfacing in the present life, and humanity, as a whole, must feel responsible for such a state of things. Nowadays, there seems to be a new broad-mindedness amongst the people of South- Africa and other countries, and there is hope for black communities. However, there still remains, within the hearts of many white, as well as black people and other races, a remnant of racism that does not have its place in a Christian, Buddhist, Islamic or any other human community. The segregation that is practiced on a wide scale in South Africa, is still rampant in all parts of the world, and, even though the law seems to be on the side of the oppressed, it is extremely difficult to root out bigotry, biases and intolerance from the soul of mankind. We are all Sons and Daughters of the same Father, and we are all equal in the eyes of God.

As predicted by the seer Edgar Cayce 45 years ago, Russia and other satellite countries are now awakening from their lethargy. With the rise to power of Gorbachev, and his new economic turn about, a feeling of optimism has swept the Soviet Union, and from many parts of these satellite countries, people have awakened from their lethargy and called for religious freedom, democratic governments and free elections. But now, we find that democracy has blown up the communist party and broken up the Soviet Union. Many of these countries have proclaimed their independence. There is a new union of these independant states, with Russia as the leading force, but it is only the beginning, and there is still a lot to do to bring these people back together, as each of these countries is now trying to regain its own autonomy. Russians have regained their freedom of expression, but they are still confronted with the powers of greed, selfishness and intolerance, that have been part of all systems since the Fall of men.

Being the second world power took a heavy toll of the Russian people. As far as the well-being and health of its citizens is concerned, the country is still twenty years behind, and its economy is in a lamentable state. The February 1989 edition of Reader's Digest, gives us a very somber picture of U.S.S.R.'s economyin the 80s, and, according to Rudolph Chelminski's article, life expectancy was gradually decreasing, infant mortality had more than doubled, and this, probably due to the fact that hospitals were 20 years behind occidental technology. Just imagine what life must be in that country, now that its economy is in shambles! Is there any reason why half of humanity cannot take advantage of the development and advanced technology of the other half? None, except greed,, fear, and egotism. Communism has been a lesson for that country, as well as capitalism has been a lesson for the western countries. Both systems lack the fundamental qualities of a people of God, that is to say, love, charity and fraternity. Communism has never fully satisfied the Russian people and its satellite countries, because the Socialist system had degenerated into a system of caste. If it is true that everyone had access to food, lodging and material goods, it is also true that the quality and quantity of these goods and services were dependent upon one's status in the Central Commitee and the local governments. The same was true of hospitals whose quality and availability increased according to the social level of individuals. This is not what can be called true social justice, and Karl Marx's doctrine, the classless society, had become, for lack of love and understanding, a system of caste and a police state.

For this reason also, these eastern countries now find themselves in a state of poverty and decline. It is not because these republics have a new form of government, that their economy will have a new lease on life, and there is still a long road to travel, to bring about a true democratic process in all those countries.

The capitalist system has gone to the other extreme, and the gap between rich and poor is so wide, that western democracies have lost control of their economy. Most of them are in debt way over their head, and it will take a miracle to prevent the collapse of the world's markets. There is a limit to absurdity, and it is very difficult to have a stable economy, when riches of the world are in the hands of a small group whose only goal is to get richer and richer everyday, people who play with the lives of individuals as if it were a game of monopoly.

In fact, none of the systems of the world have really worked, because all changes come from within. It is only when each of us understands, that we are all brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters of the same Father, that we will, finally, have true democracy throughout the world.

Democracy is the true form of life for all mankind,but, even though America is the land of opportunity, and anyone can become a millionnaire overnight, such a limited and childish concept, does not meet the prerequisites, that will single it out as a true spiritual democracy. And this will only be possible, when we truly become our brother and sister's keeper. This means that we do not force our beliefs on others; that we are not judgmental of their way of life; that no one, through greed, or selfishness, will widen the gap between, what we call, the classes of society, but are, in fact, the byproducts of our pride and our egotism; that at the end of a day's work, everyone can receive, not the scraps from the table, but an honest pay; that we will see to it that famine and war are eradicated from the face of the earth. This is true democracy, and until such a dream can be fulfilled, our ways of life are only a mockery, and we are all the Pharisees of this generation.

Even though the children we were, have graduated to that next step on the evolutionary ladder, we are still far from being a true people of God. We still live at the rhythm of materialism, and we are still selfish and intolerant. We have forgotten, altogether, that true democracy is not limited to freedom of speech and, in a cosmic perspective, it embraces all material, mental and spiritual aspects of life. And yet, we are fortunate to live on this continent, and America truly represents the Promised Land, for all those who flee their country, and search for a place to live in peace and harmony. We have all the tools needed, to create a just society: a rich soil, advanced technology, expert labor, and, above all, free-will of expression. Greed, selfishness, and intolerance, are the only obstacles that stand in our way and, once these obstacles removed, we will be in a position, to create a society, where everyone can live in love, peace and harmony.

When the thought of profit entered our consciousness, and money became the medium of exchange, cupidity made its appearance, pulling along in its wake, all the other capital sins (errors), and giving birth to social classes and disparities. Money has been a part of our culture for eons of time, and it will be very difficult, to erase it from our consciousness.

Our social, economic, and technological, progress is good and viable, as long as we bear in mind, it should always be for the betterment of mankind, not its abasement. The problem is within, not without. It is within that we can find the source of all the calamities that befall the planet at the present time, and it is also within, that we can find the solution to all our problems. It is certainly not the fault of the Deity. We are that Deity. We are the expression of the Divine Energy, and this Energy knows fully well, that life on earth is a learning process, and it knows the meaning of as you sow, so shall you reap. This is the law of Karma, the law of cause and effect, and this law is the 'maître-d'oeuvre' of all life experiences. We are on the earth plane, to experience, and make use, of materiality, and it is through our technological and scientific, as well as our mental and spiritual progress, that we can experience all of life. Not only do we have the right to make (good) use of materiality, but again, it is the purpose of our incarnation on this tridimensional world. This is the search for God, as God is everything and encompasses all things.

Because he looks for happiness in the possession and enjoyment of material things, man has become a monster of egotism and intolerance, and, even in our own society, it will take more than wishful thinking to reverse the trend. In spite of all our technological and scientific development, we are not much better than other countries of the world. The needy still roam the streets in search of a place to sleep, our hospitals are overloaded and, in the U.S.A., most of them are prohibitive. The poor become poorer everyday, and there are strikes and lock-outs everywhere and all year round. Is that a society that cares for its people? There are hundreds of thousands of youth of all races ,who stagnate in prisons, simply because they couldn't find a job, or an attentive ear. This is true of all countries of the world, and it is the cancer that eats away society. There must certainly be a way to rehabilitate all these youngsters, who will become, whether we like it or not, tomorrow's adult society

In reality, rich and poor are all in the same boat: the poor must experience what it feels like to be in need and learn to share the little he has with others. The rich must learn responsibility, and use these riches to improve the condition of the less fortunate, thus creating a better world to live in. These are two very important karmic roles, and the choice of either one of these roles, is made according to the lessons the individual must learn and the errors he must correct. Didn't Jesus say: Watch out and guard yourself from every kind of greed, because a person's true life is not made up of the things he owns, no matter how rich he may be. (Luke 12: 15). It is not fate, coincidence, or accident, that places us in a condition of deprivation, or abundance. It is karma, the law of cause and effect, which thus enables us to reestablish the balance within ourselves and within the world we inhabit.

Social welfare may seem like a worthy gesture towards the poorest members of our society, but it is a sure sign, that humanity has failed to recognize the unconscious need of individuals, to live their life to the fullest, with dignity and the respect of others. To live at the expense of society, is certainly not the best means to fulfil one's life mission, and, once the trend set, and the beneficiary incorporated into the system, his desire to pull through, and make something out of his life, is put aside, thus giving way to resignation and economic dependency. Unwilling,or unable, to create jobs that would eradicate poverty, and ease the burden of the working class, who must contribute to this system of social justice, we have taken the easiest way, preferring to calm the hunger, and anger, of the needy ,with just enough money to barely survive, rather than try to create a new society, where all individuals can have a job, decent clothing, sufficient food, and a roof over their head.

As practiced today, social welfare is the most degrading form of charity that exists. To sponge on society is not the best means to be our brother's keeper, and only those who are unable to work should have access to such a system of social justice. Even those we call, and sometimes erroneously, disabled, or handicapped people, should be fully integrated into the labor force (which in fact is their utmost desire), and, instead of raising funds, which, for the most part, go into the wrong hands, we should simply give them the tools that will enable them to become full members of society. This is money well spent, and it is much better, and brings better results, than a system of social welfare, that only put patches, here and there, when the whole wall is falling apart.

All single parents (men, or women) who raise children, should receive, if needs be, a reasonable amount from the state, not in the form of charity, but as a well-earned salary. Raising one, two, or more children is a full time job, and should be considered as such. If you think that this would take an enormous amount of money, just consider what is spent, every year, to run our prisons and correctional centres, and all these robberies, arsons, and destruction of properties, that drains the coffers of the State, and disrups the equilibrium of society. Education is the very foundation of civilization, and a society that boosts itself as being civilized should see to it that all its children, without exception, be raised in the best manner possible, as these children will be the same who, later on, will become the leaders and the purveyors of that same society. To this end, the parent should not be placed in a position, where he, or she, will have to share the time between work and the home, and, if necessary, they should receive a just renumeration for such a valuable service as the raising of children.

Mandatory, or not, retirement has become an important stage in the life of the individual. The word itself, suggests a cessation of activity, which, very often, deprives society of a competent and experienced labor force, and this, supposedly to make place for the youths, when these youths are the same, who will have to work ,even more, to assume the growing cost of our welfare programs. It is false to pretend that faculties decrease with age. Faculties increase, or decrease, according to the awareness we transmit to the cells. If we send a positive message of love, health and prosperity, they react accordingly, just as negative thoughts will trigger a negative response. Our erroneous principles, bias and taboos concerning life, old age, and death, activate and accelerate the aging process. Consequence of this negative attitude, the cells loose their own purpose of life, and the body decays and dies. Just ask yourself why the first societies could live more than a thousand years, and why the present society can barely live to be eighty. These were people just like us, with the same bone structure and the same metabolism. The only difference is that they lived according to the law of ONE, and in atonement with nature. From the moment they began to think in terms of materialism, they began to decline, and the aging process became the lot of all humanity. It took many million years to regress to the point where we are now, but whatever the length of our life, it is always of our own free-will, and not a decree from God. It is true that most of humanity will go through the dying process in this lifetime, but this does not alter the fact ,that each of us has, here and now, the inner potential, or the God-given power, to overcome death, and become a Christ of God. It is our birthright, and the ultimate goal of all our lives.

Many of our 'old people' are at the peak of their powers at sixty, and even seventy, and many of them are still serving their community. They dread retirement, for they find it difficult to cut short an active life, and trade the tools, or the office, for a rocking chair. With the exception of accidents, of course, work has never killed anyone, and a survey would, most certainly, show, that the death rate is much higher among old people who stopped all activities, than among those who live an active life. We came into the world for a purpose, and purpose equates activity and expression. The greater the activity, the longer the life, assuming, of course, that activity to be sane and purposeful.

In Canada, the Government has settled the question of who should receive a pension: everyone gets it. Isn't it total absurdity! In actuality, this means that part of what a middle-income family gives for tax purposes goes to every rich man or woman who reaches 65. Unfortunately, it is not the only absurdity of our system, and this is why the economy is in such a bad state. Old age pensions should be given only to those who need it, and on request. We have, virtually, conditioned our society in such a way, that, with the inactivity it entails, retirement has become an important step in people's life, a kind of grandiose entrance in the vestibule of old age and death. And this conditioning is one of the reasons why some people are already old at 70 and even 60. Raised in the consciousness of the aging process, and the finality of death which gets closer with each anniversary, they accept ,resignedly, society's verdict. For many people, the form they sign to receive that pension, is a treaty they sign with death, an unconditional surrender of the body on the battlefield of life.

In order for them to fulfil their life's mission, and remain active, society should see to it that all elderly people be integrated in the life of the community, and not isolated, as they are now, in hospitals and care centers, where, lost in their thoughts, thousands of old people languish in boredom, day after day, awaiting, with apprehension, a demise that is a long time coming.

This said, one must admit society has not yet found the Fountain of Youth (it exists but we look at the wrong place), and we still have to deal with the aging process and death. Therefore, we must reckon with this eventuality, and act accordingly. It is just and good to care for those whose mental and physical heath is weakened by ilnesses, or old age. If, in order to show the world the extent of our scientific and technological progress, we do not hesitate to build, at enormous costs, Olympic stadiums and pavilions that are, in fact, a tribute to man's pride and ego, and become, for the most part, useless after a few years, surely we can take care of our children and old people, and create a society, where they will be able to live among us, in peace and tranquility. Then, and only then, will we show the world, the extent of our spiritual progress, thus becoming a light and an example for all the people of the earth.

Ideally, that is, in a spiritual and evolved society, everyone should work for the whole community, each in his, or her, own field of experience, without renumeration and for the sole purpose of contributing to the common good, and be of service to others. In such a society, everyone should have access to food, lodging, and all the things necessary to their comfort and well-being, for the law is immutable, and we are all, whether they deserve it or not, our brother and sister's keepers. No banks, no money, no salary, no profiteers.

Unfortunately, none of our modes of society is compatible with such a selflessness and altruism. It would be utopian to believe, that such a system could have a chance to succeed in our present form of society. All the same, we have, within the present system, the means to create a just society, where inequalities gradually disappear, and where all receive a just renumeration for their work. The parable of the rich man is a good example of our system of society, and the poor who eats the scraps that fall from the table full of delicacies, bear a strong resemblance with all those who must content themselves with the minimum salary, when a privileged class goes on strike, and take a whole population hostage, in order to get higher and higher salaries. All we need is a little love and understanding. Let us remove greed from our lives, and the rest will follow as if by magic.

In the eyes of the world, the president of a company deserves more than an employee, and a prime minister is more important than a garbage collector. However, in a spiritual society, all are equal, and, to the best of their abilities, each contributes to the weel-being of the community. As mentioned earlier, such a system of justice is unthinkable in our society, and it is very hard to believe the minimum wage could be raised to a normal and reasonable level without a fight. It is even more difficult to visualize the leaders, ministers, and executives of the world, receiving a just salary, this meaning, of course, the same amount as a regular worker. We have been raised in the awe and respect of social status, power, prestige, and all the gratifications and benefits that go with it, and the more money, or power, we have, the higher we are on the social ladder.

The least we can do, caught that we are in our materialistic conventions and our egoistical life, is try to close the gap between the various classes of society, and share out the burden of taxes proportionally to the income of the taxpayer. Under the pretext of encouraging commerce and industry, and for all kinds of reasons, our governments give tax exemptions to big companies, thus allowing minority groups to get richer at the expense of the working class.

Those who feel they deserve more than the others because their task is more important, are no better than the workers in the vineyard, (Mat. 20: 1-16) who complained after a day's work, because some had received the same salary for a greater amount of work. These individuals do not understand the meaning of their earth's mission, and this is why Jesus ends his parable with these words:

So those who are now last will be first, and those who are now first will be last.

In this parable, Jesus tried to demonstrate that, whatever work we accomplish, be it king of a kingdom, or labourer in the field, it is only one of the tasks we have agreed upon, and the most important one is still to share with those that are less fortunate, and become our brother and sister's keepers. Those who feel they are more important because they have a more important work to do, do not understand the purpose of their life's mission, and they have already received their reward. This parable of Jesus goes right to the heart of the problem, and it is only when we understand its true meaning, and integrate the teaching in our life, that we will become a true people of God.

Syndication was introduced to counter-balance the injustices of an ever greedy upper class, who starved the workers, and built their empires on cheap labor and bad working conditions. The aftermath of the 1929 crash, where laborers were forced to work, literally, for a piece of bread, brought all these men and women together in order to obtain decent wages, fair working conditions, and a better way of life.

But here again, we speak of the pendulum, that always swings back and forth until it finally comes to a halt. Thus, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction, and we, finally, realize, that syndication has become a powerful tool, in the hands of a minority, that pulls the strings of governments, and use society, as bargaining chip of their negotiation. It is a force of persuation to be reckoned with, and the fate of society is now in the hands of individuals, whose only goal is self-interest and profit. This growing ascendancy of syndicates, disrupts the fragile equilibrium, that exists between government and society, and, unfortunately, creates more inequalities, than it had originally intended to correct. For instance, the unending requests of syndicates for higher and higher salaries, may satisfy the needs of their members, but they also boomerang, and create a vicious circle, where a raise in salary calls for higher consumer's prices. These, in turn, call for still higher salaries, and, one way or another, someone must pay the final bill. This is egotism in its more subtle form, as it indirectly affects these weakest elements of our society, the poor and the elderly, who cannot compete and survive in a world, that, for lack of strength and political reasons, allows minority groups to widen the gap that exists between their low income and the ever increasing cost of living. And these minority groups are the same people who call themselves Christians, and pray God to help them in their negotiations.

The same egotism is apparent in all public services, mail, hospitals and transportation. In these vital sectors of society, strikes are almost part of the everyday life, and, most of the time, public interest is put aside in the name of justice, while that same justice is trampled underfoot, at the expense of the sick, the poor, the elderly, and all those who have a right to these services. Hostage-takings do not always make the first page, and when the sick become the helpless victims of negotiations, we can truly ask ourselves if, in the final analysis, many of us are not potential hostage-takers, as our own egotism always takes precedence over love and compassion.

Men have always held a comfortable place in society. They have been the law makers of that same society, and, for many races and many individuals, woman has been, and still is, an inferior species. For this reason, men have placed them under their benevolent protection, and taking full control, they have enforced laws that limit their expression in the world. It goes without saying, that this male bias has disrupted the thin equilibrium of human relationships, and this is why, for eons of time, women have been trying to escape from the bondage of a society, that does not recognize the equality of spirit of the masculine and feminine expression of life.

Consequence of this, the twentieth century has seen the appearance of the feminist groups, that started out as a movement in favor of the right to vote, and the right to equal opportunities. It became the powerful organization it is today, with ramifications and lobbying in all spheres of society, including the labour movement, business, politics and religion. Just as syndication was necessary to fight the selfishness of greedy employers, so was the feminist movement essential to revalue the role of women, in a society where she had been abused and debased, a society where she was, mostly, considered as an accessory, a children's nurse, and a cleaning woman, and where she found herself in an inferior position, and ceaselessly at the mercy of the whims and bias of men.

And here again, there may be a certain parallel between syndication and the feminist movements, in the sense that their common goal is to improve human conditions, but, as is so often the case, they may have gone too far in the process, and forgotten the essential, which is to help one another, and be of service to mankind. It is not to say that feminist's claims are unjustified, but, in the process of counter-balancing man's exploitation, domination, agressivity, and all his misconceptions concerning the role of women in the world, the feminists, and women in general, may have digressed from the ideal and purpose of their incarnation in the world, as a woman, rather than as a man.

All this is partly due to our ignorance of universal laws, and, of course, the belief, imposed, upon us, by occidental religions, that our earthly sojourn is limited to one life, when, in actuality, we have, and will,, live many lives on earth, or any other planet of our choice. The cycle of successive lives or, if you prefer, reincarnation, allows us, in all freedom of expression, to enter a male, or female, body, and this, in order to widen the field of our experiences, through the attributes inherent to the body type we have chosen. It is but the false personality, or ego, that veils the beauty, the value, and the true mission of the feminine body. This does not place women in a specific and limited role, it simply amplifies her importance in the evolution of mankind.

As mentioned in a previous chapter, if maternity is the ultimate career, it is, definitely not, the only one a woman can choose. There are other ways, for women, to serve mankind, and numerous are those who pursue a fulfilling career in the world. The reincarnational factor has much to do with it, and a woman who gave birth to many children in previous lives may have decided to change career in the present one, and she will choose, in all freedom of expression, the one which corresponds to her inner feelings and ideas regarding life. Married, or single, she has the right to forego maternity, for there is, definitely, more to life, than the limited perspective of our present generation. In a sense, we take ourselves too seriously, and it is not preposterous to say that God is much more humorous than we are. We compartmentalize human choices as if they were seal-tight expressions of life, and ordained by God: priest-celibate, marriage-sex-children, and so on. We are putting too much emphasis on all these roles of life, and not enough on those who play these roles. We are not the slaves of religion and social conventions, and there are there to serve us, not to be served. The good and the happiness of the individual takes precedence over all man-made laws, providing it does not hamper another individual's free-will of expression.

Life being a school of experience, we incarnate in a society that has specific rules and customs, but it does not mean that these have been established by God. If they were, they would be uniform throughout the earth. All of them are man-made, and it is up to the individual to define if he, or she, will abide by the rules, or try to change them. This is what is called evolution, and, during the many lives we spent on the earth plane, we have been, for the better or for the worse, part of the many races, religions and countries of the world, and this, to u more fully, the concept of love and brotherhood. Each of these roles, is chosen prior to our entrance into the world. The gender, of course, is chosen for specific purposes, the most obvious one being motherhood. No one can usurp the individual's freedom of expression, and each role, whether it is masculine or feminine, is defined by the individual himself, and according to his inner fellings and his own karmic agreements. So, although society places both sexes in specific roles, who is to say that it is the best means to fulfill one's own karmic obligations? Thus, the woman who wants to drive a truck, or become a plumber, or the man who likes to cook, or design dresses, are only expressing latent desires, and fulfilling the karmic agreements they made prior to their entrance into the world. The same goes for a woman who chooses a career, a single parent who raises a child, or a child who becomes an orphan. Life is a series of attitudes. These attitudes are the outcome of a choice, and that choice is the prerogative of all human beings, to live their life, according to their inner feelings and ideals of life. This is why, it is so important never to judge anyone.

In past and present civilizations men have always been considered as the purveyors and the protectors, and women, the helpers and pacifiers. Even today, in spite of women's growing influence and self-sufficiency, this notion is still ingrained in the collective consciousness of humanity. Whether it is valid or not, is unimportant., for each of these roles is very important. Each serves a cosmic purpose of which we are unaware, because we fail to realize, that the body is but the vehicle of the spirit, and we, definitely, chose our sex for specific reasons, the most importsant one being to establish the balance of the masculine and feminine attrbutes, the Yin and Yang of Taoist cosmology, which is a true representation of the harmony that exists in our cosmic universe.

Women are definitely there to counterbalance man's aggressiveness, and help human beings find their way, through the labyrinth of greed and selfishness they have created for themselves, thus awakening, in man, the feminine attributes and qualities of tenderness, caring, and service to others. In the same manner, women's masculine attributes are awakened to bring about the balance of body, mind and spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all mankind. Thus man's drive for power may be tempered by the desire to help, his warring instinct by the desire to protect, and his dominating spirit by love and compassion. It is in this sense, that woman is truly the helper, the moral and spiritual rib-cage behind all man's accomplishments. Isn't it said somewhere that behind all great men, there is a woman? Then, it is only just to say that, behind all great women, there is a man, as one is the complement of the other. However, this does not place either sex in an inferior condition, and, whatever our chosen role, we are, or should be, at the service of all humanity. No one has cause to envy the other sex, for we have, freely, chosen our body type, and, in the course of our many lives, we have been, in turn, man and woman, and this, in order to experience all the facets of life, and manifest, in the due course of time, the total being we are, when we put on the mantle of Christ, and become a true child of God.

We are all here to help each other, and our ultimate mission in the world is one of love, in a spirit of servitude towards all human beings. The Master Jesus, that so many men and women, praise and worship in vain, through lack of understanding the true purpose of his mission, was the first to realize, that love and service to mankind, was the sole prerequisite to our spiritual development, and eventual enlightenment. He exemplified and symbolized it, when he washed the feet of his disciples. If we live our life according to these principles, it does not matter too much if it is a menial task, or a high office. All that counts is our willingness to serve, and the Father who sees in our heart will reward us tenfold.

The feminist movements are so eager to promote women's rights and equality with men, that it has become, not so much a question of regaining their place in society, as a contest between men and women. If you can do it, I can do it too, and we now find women in the combat zones, when, not so long ago, they were cursing war and deploring the death of their loved ones in World War Two, and later on, in the Corean and Vietnam conflicts. Far from expressing their attributes of pacifiers, they now handle guns and machine-guns, and have become men's equals in an enterprise as useless and barbarous as war. Far from using their feminine attributes of tenderness and caring, to discourage men's warring instincts, they have now joined the band-wagon, and become themselves warriors. This, of course, does not concern all these women who do a wonderful job, nursing the wounded on the battlefield. We certainly need their skill and their dedication. It concerns war, the use of arms, and the implication of women in the manipulation of offensive weapons. It is not a question of judging their behavior, that may stem from a legitimate desire to serve their country, but it is, rather, to reiterate the fact that any change in society will have to come from society itself. There are, of course, many men who are opposed to war, but women are definitely the key factor to this eventual change. Until we change our mentality on war, we will have governments and armies that devastate the world, and families that mourn their loved ones.

Humanity has not changed that much since the times of Rome, and the same people who enjoyed a good show in the Arenas, and applauded when a Christian was devoured by the lions, are today's Christians who, in our civilized society, will shou and rejoice, when their favorite boxer, or wrestler, is having a good time on the body, or the nose, of his adversary. This is one of the pitfalls of materialism, and those who enjoy these sanguinarian sports, players and spectators alike, as well as those who draw profit from them, are only increasing mankind's negativity (and their own), by desecrating, or helping to desecrate, a body that was made in the image and the likeness of its Creator.

Sport is a sane and beneficial activity for the body, and the spirit as well, but in today's world, it has become another Golden Calf of greed and materialism. It has also, and unfortunately, become the prey of profiteers, and players, as well as promoters, have transformed, what should be a manifestation of fraternity and good-will, into ruthless competitions and money-making machines. We are far from the first Greek games, and the Olympic disciplines have become so competitive that, to increase efficiency, the athletes are now resorting to artificial means, and the use of drugs has infiltrated the Olympic movement. If this chemical dependency is not eradicated, the spirit of competition in a friendly atmosphere, will soon be left behind, and the key-word will be, win at all costs. In spite of all this, the Olympic movement still retains its integrity and prestige, and it remains the leader of all the associations that try to promote sport. It is one of the best incentives to encourage this form of exercise, and maintain a good equilibrium in body, soul and spirit. If it is true that we must feed the soul and spirit, it is equally true that we must care for the body. Being sound in mind, and sound in body, is a sure sign that we have progressed on the evolutionary scale, and the next step is not far away. Unfortunately, the sport in general has not followed this altruistic trend, and, what may happen in the Olympic disciplines, is already a fact of life in many sports, where it is no longer a question of exercice and sane activity. It is a question of money and profit. With such incentives, it is very diffficult to compete in a spirit of friendliness, and, as is so often the case in hockey leagues, the game will very often degenerate into a fist fight between children. The more violent the game, the more successful it will be, as sports fans look forward to these altercations, where the fists become an easy substitute for the brain.

The entertainment world is a world of illusions, and Hollywood itself, has fallen under the spell of make-believe. Each tries to outdo the other in excentricities, or display of riches, and it is easy to understand, when one realizes that some artists and singers earn in a day what a teacher earns in a year. Is the singer, or actor to blame? Not entirely, for they are only working within the system, just like the banker, or the businessman, and the system is all for money and power. This, of course, is not an excuse, and it does not contribute to knock down the barriers between people. It is very difficult, to reconcile such a blatant display of riches, with the poverty we find in the slums of all our great cities of the world. Those who amass such tremendous wealth carry, indeed, a heavy burden on their shoulders, and because they have more, they will account for more, when the time comes for them to take stock of their earthly experience.

The world of entertainment is, indeed, a world of illusions. It is the mirror of a society, where greed has become the 'Golden Calf,' that will be the downfall of all those, who have forgotten that the richer they are, the more they become their brother and sister's keepers. No one is saying that it is wrong to earn money and have a good life, and there is, of course, nothing wrong with riches, nor with material possessions for that matter. Quite to the contrary, one should try to improve his, or her, own status in life. An individual who continually remains on social welfare because he, or she, lacks courage, or is too lazy to work, is as much to blame as the one who strikes it rich, and spends his money idly, instead of using it for the betterment of mankind.

As special representatives of God in society's most visible sphere of activity, all artists, through their music, their shows, their films, and their constant exposure to radio and TV, have the responsibility to make of this world a better world to live in, not a world of destruction, violence and ugliness, where everyone competes to have the most expensive house, or automobile, and the biggest bank account, but a world where all our brothers and sisters of the world will have a roof over their head, and bread on the table; a world of splendor and beauty, where everything becomes a reflection of the Divinity, that dwells in each and everyone of us. This is the society that America and the rest of the world should strive to create, in order to hasten the birth of the New Renaissance of humanity.

In the past, big fortunes were the privilege of the nobility.Their special status surrounded them, and their possessions, of course, with a kind of protective shield that legitimized their riches in their own eyes, and in the eyes of the serfs and peasants, who worked, starved, and were, indeed, the slaves of the Middle Ages.

The French Revolution came to turn the feudal system upside down, and, finally, after centuries of serfdom, France awakened from its lethargy. The huge spendings of the queen, and the greed of the nobility, who raised taxes after taxes to maintain their lifestyle, stirred up public opinion against them, and the people rose up 'en masse' to assert their rights, and establish a system of social justice, monarchy had always denied them. However, the bloody events that led to the beheading of the monarchs and the aristocrats, served no other purpose than satisfy the vengeance of the rabble who also, symbolically, looses the head in such circumstances.

At one time or another, all countries have had their big and small revolution and their bloody epics, and, even though it is part of the evolutionary process of life, revolutions will never bring people together. France has lost its kings, and Russia its tsars, but the change to new forms of society, has only displaced the problem, and social injustices and inequalities are still rampant in all societies of the world.

Social problems are not solved through violence, and history teaches us, that wars and conflicts never solved anything, and have left nothing but poverty and devastation behind them. The great conflicts of the past have left scars that have not disappeared after thousands of years, and we now find yesterday's vanquished, still trying to settle, by war, a conflict that can only be solved through love and compassion.

Most monarchies of the past have disappeared to make place for republics, federations, states and dictatorships. Revolutionaries have become dictators, and kings, counts, barons and marquis, have traded the coat of arms and the court dress, for the office and the business suit. Nowadays, they sit on the board of directors of business empires and conglomerates, and they have become P.D.G.s and directors of big and small companies. Revolutions have changed the status of individuals, but they haven't changed their hearts, and their goal is still to make money, and get the most out of people's sweats and labour. Of course, there are people who have at heart the weoll-bei9ng of humanity, but the present state of the world is proof that there aren't that many, and if many are called, very few are chosen.

The blatant exposure of wealth of those who stroke it rich, is enough (but is not an excuse) to prompt individuals, young and old, to choose the wrong path, and try to take by force, what they cannot get otherwise. And all this to appropriate a little part of the riches that are in the hands of a few individuals. There is no excuse to violence and crime, but there is no excuse either, to the accumulation of riches, when this wealth is not used to help others, and make of this world a better world to live in. Poverty, or wealth, are of our own choosing. It is a unique experience, that allows us to learn the lessons inherent to both these aspects of life. It is also a test, that will demonstrate how much we have progressed on the spiritual pathway. Just as poverty will teach us the harshness of life, wealth will teach us the futility of material possessions, when these are not used for the good of humanity. Both conditions have pitfalls that must be avoided. In the full spectrum of reincarnational process, it is as difficult to own riches, as it is to be poor.

Whatever our perceptions are of our riches, and even if we are convinced they are rightfully ours, we must remember they are but a loan from God, and we will be asked, not how much we have, but rather how much we have given away, or shared with others that are less fortunate. We are entitled to all the good things in God's Kingdom, but so are all our brothers and sisters of the world.

Through lack of spiritual directives, the business world has transformed itself into a cruel jungle, where competition is the key word. It has become an enormous bee-hive of greed, where work is a constant drive for money and power, and where the human factor is weighed according to the profit it brings in. It has become an arena, where everyone fights mercilessly, and where justice and charity, are mere accessories that you leave home in the morning, and recuperate at night when they are no longer cumbersome.

The reason why so many are unhappy with the work they do, is that they choose, mostly by necessity, not what they really like to do, but rather what will bring them the better income and the greater prestige. They throw themselves headlong into the race for happiness, and, to reach their goal, they define their own priorities, that are about the same for most of humanity: a house, an automobile, and enough money in the bank to guard against all eventualities. As soon as the goal is reached, they will be happy. After a few years, all of this becomes reality, all except happiness. Then, they finally realize that happiness is not a goal to reach, but a constant state of mind that must be nurtured each day of our life. Rich and poor have access to it, and a survey would show there are as many happy people among the poor, as among the rich, and perhaps even more. It is, of course, natural to desire the best things in life, but one must remember that the best things in life are free.

Riches themselves are expressions of God, but, unless they are used for the betterment of mankind, they will only create a false feeling of security and happiness. True happiness will only be found when we become our Father's children, that is to say, when we consider all human beings as brothers and sisters, for, they too, are His children. If it is normal to long for a house, an automobile and security, it is even more normal to long for a place to sleep and a good meal. Every one will agree that food and lodging are definite necessities of life. Each of us has a fundamental right to shelter and sustenance, as the body must be protected from the hot and cold weather, and could not survive without food. These are inalienable human rights, and leaving the task of feeding the poor to charitable organizations, is the proof that our leaders have failed in their task, for it is the first duty of governments, to see to it that all human rights are respected, and food and lodging are certainly the most important ones. The denial of this fundamental right, has become the Achilles' heel of humanity, and we have failed as a society, because we have let greed and profit, take precedence over love and compassion. A society, that does not have, as primary goal, the survival and welfare of all its people, falls short of its own expectations, and does not meet the moral prerequisites that befall true Sons and true daughters of God.

The greater part of all the riches of the world is in the hands of a few individuals who could, if they had the courage to do so, change the face of the world, and bring mankind to its original state of order, balance and harmony. This sharing of riches is the ultimate test for humanity, and it is in this sense, that we must understand the words of Jesus, when he said: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25)The rich young man of the Gospels was asked, not to give up all his possessions and follow Jesus, which, in his case could have been a foolish thing to do, but to rid himself of the greed, and the feeling of ownership, and make a just and good use of his riches. And this, the rich young man couldn't do.

It is much more worthy, to invest money in a project that will benefit the whole community, than disburse tens of millions of dollars, for works of art that have no other value than the one we give them. Many artists of the past, must be turning in their grave, when they see the value their works have reached, when, during their lifetime, they could barely make ends meet. Does that really mean that their contemporaries had no taste? Not at all. It simply means that people were as snob, fussy and superficial, in those days, as they are now. Instead of purchasing works of art that are only remnants of the past, it would be much better to built the present, and encourage all our young artists who find it very odd, indeed, to beat their brains out ,on paintings that, for many of them, will have real value only after their deaths. It is good to preserve vestiges of the past, and write history. However, there is a limit to fatuity and lack of logic, and paying up to 80 millions dollars for an old master, denotes a somewhat deformed notion of the true values of life, in a world where thousands of children die of hunger each day. This is materialism in its more absurd form, and, one way or another, mankind will have to learn, and the hard way, the true meaning of life. A society that does not have as primary goal the survival and welfare of all its people, falls short of its expectations, and does not meet the prerequisites of a true people of God.

Our governments have become self-centered, and we are, unfortunately, the helpless victims of a system, whose main goal is politics and power. Many of our representatives, are not elected on the basis of their wisdom and abilities, but rather because they are brilliant talkers and popular in their own communities. The heavy burden of taxes and debts, that are thrust upon societies of the world, is the consequence of incompetent administrations, mostly worsened by the favoritism and dishonesty of our politicians and businessmen (not all of them), who have found there a very profitable source of profit. We are paying twice the taxes we would pay if, instead of serving the rich and favoring the establishment, governments were run for the good of the population, that is to say, with caution and wisdom. It is very easy to balance a budget when it is always filled in by the society's horn of plenty.

But there again, there are those who are devoted to their task, and have at heart the welfare of their constituents. Unfortunately, they are but a few. Soon, they find themselves dragged down in the gearwheels of a corrupted system, whose origins are lost in the mists of time. Politicians have, no doubt, invented the proverb "The truth is sometimes best left unsaid", and they make an extensive use of it. In such a polluted atmosphere, it is difficult to remain totally honest, as well as it is difficult to attract truly competent people. This is what happens when a society sinks into the abyss of materialism, and forgets the true purpose of its life's mission.

Always in search of profitable sources of income, our governments have legalized gambling and lotteries, and these activities that, in the past, were immoral, illegal, and have enriched all the Al Capones of society, have now become 'the goose that lays the golden egg,' and we have become a society of dreamers, who may even spend the money put aside for groceries, in order to try their luck at the daily, weekly, and monthly lotteries, and all this in the hope that one day, it will be their turn. For some, it may be just a game, or a pastime, but others take it very seriously, and instead of trying to help themselves, and make the efforts to improve their own status in life, they simply remain idle, ever hopeful that one day their turn will come. You would be surprised to discover, how much of a welfare cheque goes on lotteries of all kinds! This is definitely not the best way to find happiness and security, and it is only, when each of us takes his, or her, share of responsabilities, when we let go of this desire to become rich at all costs, that the world will become a place of equal rights and equal opportunities, a place where money and greed will be replaced by love and brotherhood.

At the dawn of this new humanity, we see the signs of a spiritual renewal. The spirit of those who reincarnated to participate to this unique event in the history of mankind, will try to experience as much of life as they can, and erase as much karma as possible, in order to reach the next step on the evolutionary ladder. This new wave of earth pioneers is less inclined to accumulate riches. Material possessions being the least of their concerns, they find themselves in a 'cul-de-sac,' where their own lack of interest, places them in a situation of economic and social dependency. Thus, surrounded by these negative forces, they revolt against society. They find it hard to believe that some individuals can earn millions of dollars in salary, when others can barely make ends meet, and they cannot understand why some people find themselves at the head of colossal riches they will never be able to spend, when two-thirds of humanity can barely survive.

Many of those who have died in World War Two, and the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts, have reincarnated in the present life. They are those, who cannot understand ,why war is still considered as an alternate and viable solution to world's problems, when, throughout the centuries, millions have paid of their life, such an atrocious and materialistic concept of life. They participate in peace movements, and organize demonstrations against war and armaments. In the process of trying to change the world, they, too, make mistakes, but this is what life is all about, and it is still better to make mistakes, than do nothing. Life is an unending process, and it is through trial and error, that we will all eventually find our way back to the Godhead. Again, nothing is by coincidence or accident, and all this happens through the law of cause and effect. Nevertheless, it is not an excuse for all those who try to build their own heaven on earth, at the expense of the well-being, the health, and even the life of others.

Churches are no exception to the rule. They could not escape the current of materialism, that has invaded the earth in the last two thousand years and, with their hierarchical structure well in place, they interfere, and not always for the better, with the world of finance, business and politics. The many setbacks of Cardinal Marchinkus and his Banco Ambrosiano, and the mysterious death of John-Paul the First, are but the visible elements, of the decline of a religion, that has become synonymous with worshipping and exterior manifestations; a religiosity that worships Jesus, but does not have the courage to follow his teachings. Not trying to understand the real meaning of life, and the reason for their earth incarnation, they confine themselves within their dogmas, and try to find, in a shaky orthodoxy, a means to soothe the wrath, or win the favors, of their personal God.

Religions have become the symbol of a whole society of worshippers who search in vain for their God, and kneel before their tabernacles, not understanding that, by doing so, they relinquish their own divinity, the God within themselves. And this is why, true spirituality has become the privilege of a few, and a mystery for most of humanity. It is not without reason that Jesus said, Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.,"(Matt. 10: 34,35) meaning by this, it is with the sword of truth that one must fight against the biases, erroneous beliefs and materialistic rites, if he ever wants to see the Kingdom of God. When he overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, Jesus was, in fact, stating that one does not bargain with God, and no one can buy a ticket to heaven with money and church attendance. Today's medals and indulgences, have no more value than yesterday's sacrifices and offerings, and it is but through a life of love and service to humanity, that one finally finds the road to Salvation and Illumination.

The funerals of bygone days were very sad, indeed, and, above the coffin that was exposed in the home of the deceased, one sentence, printed in huge black letters, reminded those present, that, indeed: "LIFE IS A VALLEY OF TEARS." This was, and still is, unfortunately true, but this is of our own doing, not God's. The limitations, that leave us at the mercy of elements and events, are man-made, and they can only be unmade by man. There is no other savior than the God within the self. As soon as man recognizes he is not a puppet in the hands of God, but a God himself, the limitations will disappear, and, once again, he will have dominion over all creation.

At this crucial period in the history of mankind, it is even more difficult to overcome the negative influences that have invaded the world, and fulfil the karmic obligations of the present life. The next few years will be a period of drastic changes, that will prepare us for the new earth and the new humanity. This transformational change is the final stage, and the ultimate chance, for us to step across the multidimensional world, thus taking our rightful place in a more refined expression of God's Kingdom. For this reason, we have accepted many karmic challenges, and, for this reason also, we multiply the experiences that will hasten the final reunion with this Universal Energy we call God.

Unfortunately, two thousand years were not enough, to convince mankind that we are all, indeed, our brother's keeper; that what we do to one of God's children, we are doing to God. Since times immemorial, humanity has been at war with its lower self. Men and women alike have lost sight of their inner nature, and given way to their base instincts. The Sons and Daughters of God have been reduced to sons and daughters of men. Such a fall from grace deserved retribution, and, through the centuries and the many incarnations, we have been the slaves and the victims of ruthless and blood-thirsty tyrants. We have suffered the wraths of the Neros, the Attilas and the Hitlers of past and present generations, and have become the helpless victims of floods, earthquakes, famines and plagues. Yet, we have not learned our lessons, and, century after century, we fall into the same pitfalls, and repeat the same errors. We have desecreted the planet, and polluted its atmosphere to such a point, that nature is beginning to claim its rights, and we are now reaping the fruits of the materialism, moral decay, and spiritual decline of this generation.

Materialism, not in the sense of experiencing materiality, which is the purpose of our incarnations on the earth plane, but rather because humanity has lost contact with its true mission in life, a mission of love and service to others.

Moral decay, not in the sense of sexual behavior, but rather because, ignoring the spirit within, human beings have centered the conscious mind on their lower selves, and have become the slaves of pride, avarice, lust, envy, greed, anger, and idleness, that became the seven capital sins of humanity.

Spiritual decline, not in the sense of a drop in church attendance, but the spiritual decline of priests, rabbis, pastors and evangelists, who praise a God of clay from their pulpits, not understanding that God is a Universal Energy that encompasses the whole universe, seen and unseen. They perform their rites and ceremonies, and mumble endless prayers and supplications, but their voice is not heard in the realms of Infinitude. They do not understand that God, the Supreme Intelligence, the I AM within the body, has no need of these exterior manifestations that are man-made, a tribute to man's ego and vanity, and, because of the non-ecumenical approach to spirituality, an insult to God's love and universality.

Intolerance has become the very convenient tool of all those who, unable, or unwilling, to cope with their own misunderstandings of life, will try to reflect these inadequacies on others, and, for these reasons, they will always see the mote in the other's eye. They do not understand that each human being, each atomic structure of the material and etheric planes, is a universe within the self; that no one, whoever he may be, has the right to interfere with the spiritual behavior and the learning process of another individual. Each of us incarnates for the specific purpose of experiencing the various aspects of materiality. Through Karma, the law of cause and effect, we appear on the scene of life, to play our greatest role, that of becoming a Christ, a true Son of God. Whether we reach our objective in one, or a thousand, lives, is up to each individual. Life is unlimited, and we have eternity to fulfil this ultimate goal.

As mentioned earlier, religions of the world have their role to play in the spiritual evolution of mankind. In spite of their rigidity, orthodoxy and dogmas, they have been the lighthouse that kept humanity afloat on the rocky waters of life. They were, and still are, the kindergarten of spirituality, but, eventually, the child will have to graduate to the elementary school of life.

Again, our earth endeavours are of no concern to the spirit within the form. And that spirit is only concerned with the realization of our own cosmic potential and creativity. These, in turn, will awaken the latent powers within the Self ,and bring about the Second Coming, the unveiling of the Christ within that human form.

These are the most important years of all the lives we have lived, and now is the time to decide which way we will go. Will we serve the cause of materialism, or the God within the Self? No one can serve two masters, for a house divided falls. In these days of discord, social unrest, frequent disasters and natural cataclysms, humanity must unite to eliminate war, hunger, and poverty, from the face of the earth. It must free itself from the bondage of orthodoxy and dogmas, that divide the children of God. There is only one Church, the Christ, and one God, the God within.

Nowadays, there is a recrudescence of the old values and, unfortunately, a resurfacing of the old superstitions, myths and erroneous beliefs of the past. Using medias such as radio and TV, the false prophets of this generation drag along with them a throng of followers. The small congregations that form around 'improvised pastors' are even more orthodox than organized religions of the world. Unsatisfied with their former religion, they have built their own sect of orthodoxy and intolerance, around the Bible, that they consider the Book of God. Because the New Testament is not always in accord with their erroneous conceptions of life, they have turned to the Old Testament, that has become the bedside book of very gullible people, who try to find, in its symbolical verses and teachings, a sanctioning of their own ways and erroneous beliefs concerning religion, morality and life in general.

The fad of the last decades is to decipher the biblical books, to find clues, concerning the coming changes, as well as the time and place of their occurrence. Some predict the impending end of the world, and are making preparations for the great finale. Others are faithfully awaiting the second coming of Jesus, so that he can save the world a second time around. Certain sects already see themselves raised in heaven in a cloud of glory, when others are awaiting the space ships that will transport them to other galaxies. And, of course, there are those who look for an antichrist in all the malevolent leaders of this generation. Although there may be some truth in all these scenarios, the fact remains that humanity is, and will forever be, the artisan of its own transformation, and this physical, mental, and spiritual, transformation is the safest means to survive the changes, and be a part of the new humanity.

There will never be a Second Coming of Jesus, and neither will there be a human antichrist. In fact, Jesus never left us. He simply raised above earth limitations, and anyone who can raise his, or her, own consciousness, can see him. As for the antichrist, it has been with us since the first time we fell from grace, and lost sight of our Garden of Eden. While the 'PETIT ROBERT french dictionary defines an antichrist as "an enemy of Christ who, according to Revelation, and shortly before the end of the world, will preach a religion hostile to Christ", the WEBSTER'S dictionary defines it as "a person who will lead forces of evil on earth against ultimately victorious forces of good." Both definitions are not in accordance with cosmic principles. There are no enemies of Christ in this world, or in any other world. There are only human beings who, through trial and error, try to find their own way to God. An antichrist is, in fact, anything that will prevent human beings from reaching their goal, that of becoming Christs, the Lord-Gods of creation. An antichrist can only be the creation of man, not man himself. We are all Christs, and the Divine Flame that burns, ever brighter, within the body, cannot turn against itself. Although we are unconscious, or unaware, of Its presence, and cannot, yet, manifest Its power and attributes, as Jesus did, the Christ Spirit is an intrinsic part of the human body, and the symbol of God's presence in each of us.The anti-Christ is all around us, and money, power and greed are three of its more subtle forms. They have become such a power in our lives, that we have totally forgotten, that all the riches of the world are at our disposal, through the unveiling of the Christ within us. And, because of that, money, greed and power have become the antichrists of our generation. The great dictators of the past have all generated these forces of evil in their own time. Thus, although we cannot say that Hitler was an antichrist, he has, nevertheless, unleashed the antichrist of hate and intolerance that brought about the extermination of millions of Jews, and placed Europe under the yoke of the Third Reich. So do not look in the exterior world, but rather search within the self, and there, you will discover that these are the limitations that have taken control of the human body. They have delayed the manifestation of the Christ Spirit, and by this very fact, they have become the antichrists of this generation.

As for the end of the world, it has been predicted so many times since the last two thousand years, that there are not many who will give credence to the prophets of doom who foresee a total destruction of the earth. Suffice it to say, that the increased negativity of mankind exerts enormous pressures on the planet. Unless there is a radical turn-about, which is not seen at the present time, the cleansing process will begin with the shift of the earth on its axis, preceded by earthquakes, tidal waves and extreme weather changes that will eradicate life in many parts of the world. The breach in the ozone layers, and the increasing activity in earth, air, water and fire, are signs of the coming change, which is not the end of the world, but the end of a world of materialism and decadence. This shift will initiate earth's new course in space, and herald the new humanity. Forces are building up at the present time, and, even though the changes now seem irreversible, it is difficult to pinpoint a date, as earth's vibratory cycle is greatly influenced by the though forces of humanity. That time is, nevertheless, so near, that we are now witnessing the prelude of greater changes, in the next year, and the years to come.

There again, it is all part of a vast cosmic readjustment, embracing, not only the earth, but all worlds, seen and unseen. For sure, the earth is the center of this transformation, but there are so many influences at work, and so many factors to consider, that one can but speculate as to the eventuality of such a transformation and the time of its manifestation. In the spiritual realms, there is a tremendous effort to raise the vibrations of humanity, so that as many human beings as possible survive the changes, and participate in the rebuilding of the planet.

Many prophecies have been written concerning these coming changes, but remember that all prophecies, without exception, can be changed. The will of man is the most potent force in the universe, and in spite of all the predictions of clairvoyants, and the warnings of the scientific community, the fact remains that mankind has full control over its destiny. If there is a true desire, it is still possible to reestablish the balance of the vibratory forces of the earth, and avoid disaster. However, based upon the actual thought process and state of humanity, these changes are now seen as irreversible, and they will occur as predicted.

Nowadays, there is an upsurge of democracy throughout the world, but true democracy comes from the heart, and even in our own democratic systems, there is ample space for hate, greed and intolerance, and these are the forces of evil that must be eradicated, if we ever want to establish a true spiritual democracy throughout the world.

All in all, humanity went astray when, instead of simply using and sharing all the good things at its disposal, it allowed greed and materialism to infiltrate its collective consciousness, and they became the controlling factor of human life. Thus, prisoners of our own limitations, we have forgotten, that the physical world is a pale reflection of the cosmic universe, that will be ours, when we remove the veil of our limitations, and see ourselves as we really are, multidimensional beings in a multidimensional universe, and heirs to the unlimited abundance of God's Kingdom.

At the close of the century, humanity draws up the balance sheet of its spiritual progress since the last two thousand years. Weighing the pros and cons, we finally realize that, even though we have made tremendous progress in the fields of science and technology, we are still at the stone age of spirituality. We have desecrated our natural environment to such a critical point, that we are now on a downward course, where there is the need of this cleansing process, which will cause hardships to all individuals, but bring about a New Renaissance throughout the world. Events are starting to move faster as we approach the end of the century. The winds of democracy blow forcefully, and yesterday's slaves proclaim their right to freedom. Dictatorships are overthrown, economic systems are falling apart, but it is still the same humanity of selfishness and intolerance.

Now, for the first time since the beginning of creativity, billions of years ago, the Universal Energy we call God, Vishnu, or whatever name we give Him, will raise the vibrations of mankind to an unprecedented height and velocity. As stated in the Bible, 'But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.' (Matt. 13: 16) Now is the time to take a hard look at ourselves. We are not crawling earthworms awaiting an inevitable death. We are not helpless creatures under the domination of a vengeful God. We were not thrown out of the Garden of Eden, and condemned to work 'by the sweat of our brow'. We are in the Garden of Eden, but it is veiled to our sight because of our limitations, and our non-acceptance of the laws of Creation. These limitations have caused us to become a judgmental society, so intent on being the standard-bearers of religion and morality, that we have no time to be the standard-bearers of our own Divinity. God did not reject us, we rejected God.

Now is the time to forsake all our preconceived ideas, and let go of all the limitations, that have kept us in a dreaming state of spiritual lethargy, for so long. We are all divine beings, endowed with the most powerful gift in the Universe, and we have forsaken that gift for the glittering of gold and the illusion of materiality.

We can live forever, here and now, in or out of the body, and in the dimension of our choice, if we treat that body as the House, the true Abode of the God we search for, in our churches, temples and pagodas.

We are the generation that was spoken about in the Revelation, and now is the time to put our affairs in order, and prepare that House, so that it can be recognized, once again, as the TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD.

Indeed, humanity is at the threshold of a great happening. We are gradually awakening to the boundlessness of the world without, the vast ocean of universes, worlds and galaxies, and to the reality of our own inner world, the God within each one of us. The Prodigal Son is on his way Home, but in order to reach his Father's Kingdom, he will have to fight the devils of Pride, Avarice, Lust, Envy, Greed, Idleness, Anger, and the universally spread 'sin' of Intolerance.

The battle of Armageddon has already begun