The Destiny of the Nations [Paperback]

*The books of Alice A. Bailey, written in cooperation with a Tibetan teacher between 1919-1949, constitute a continuation of the Ageless Wisdom--a body of esoteric teaching handed down from ancient times in a form which is always suitable to each period. Intended to precede and condition the coming era, the Alice A. Bailey writings offer an unparalleled spiritual approach to such subjects as the teaching on Shamballa and the Path of spiritual evolution; the spiritual Hierarchy; the new discipleship and training in meditation as a form of service; the teaching on the seven rays and the new psychology of the soul; the teaching on esoteric astrology; and the new world religion, which emphasizes the common thread of truth linking all the major world faiths. *World problems are increasing in complexity as the population of the world increases, and as nations become inter-related and interdependent. It is important for the future of mankind that we understand and cooperate with the spiritual laws and forces at work within the interwoven structure of civilisation, so that the individual part - human and national - can be rightly related to the evolving whole. A nation is subject, as a man is, to the impact of energies emanating from solar and cosmic sources. These energies influence the nation as a whole through the "mechanism of response" equivalent to the Monad-soul-personality constitution of a man. Different nations are more receptive to some energies that to others; and all nations, subject to the evolution of national consciousness, have a destiny before them which is literally based on the qualities and the principles of the particular ray energy seeking expression through the national soul. In this book the ray energies affecting certain nations, world groupings and major cities are analysed in relation to meaning and purpose, and to the emergence of ideas appropriate to energy influences dominant at the end and at the beginning of an age. The world of humanity is shown as a state of becoming, guided and given opportunity by the spiritual Hierarchy - the inner government of the planet - from a stable state fo Being. The understanding, acceptance and fulfillment of spiritual possibilities weaves the destinies of all peoples together into a synthesis, in which each contributes to the whole the unfoldment of individual potential. A recognition of the soul destiny of nations in the light of the teaching in this book, has a practicality today in our search for international adjustments. The ray qualities affecting the peoples of the world can be used intelligently to promote understanding and unity. We are given a glimpse in this book of the beauty of energy synthesis when all component parts work together according to their own ray combination and the "the glory of the One". "The future will see right relationships, true communion, a sharing of all things ...and goodwill; we have also a picture of the future of humanity when all nations are united in complete understanding and the diversity of languages - symbolic of differing traditions, cultures, civilisations and points of view - will provide no barrier to right human relations. At the centre of each of these two pictures is to be found the Christ."

An extract from the Tibetan teacher, written in 1934 briefly explains the intent of these teachings: "The books that I have written are sent out with no claim for their acceptance. They may, or may not, be correct, true and useful. It is for you to ascertain their truth by right practice and by the exercise of the intuition. Neither I nor A.A.B. is the least interested in having them acclaimed as inspired writing, or in having anyone speak of them (with bated breath) as being the work of one of the masters. If they present truth in such a way that it follows sequentially upon that already offered in the world teachings, if the information given raises the aspiration and the will-to-serve from the plane of the emotions to that of the mind (the plane whereon the Masters can be found) then they will have served their purpose. If the teaching conveyed calls forth a response from the illumined mind of the worker in the world, and brings a flashing forth of the intuition, then let that teaching be accepted. But not otherwise. If the statements meet with eventual corroboration, or are deemed true under the test of the Law of Correspondences, then that is well and good. But should this not be so, let not the student accept what is said."