The Awakening of Humanity - Softcover

Creme, Benjamin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9071484416 ISBN 13: 9789071484414

Publisher: Share International Foundation, 2008

Synopsis

The Awakening of Humanity is a companion volume to Benjamin Creme's The World Teacher for All Humanity, published in 2007, which emphasizes the nature of Maitreya as World Teacher, the Embodiment of Love and Wisdom. The Awakening of Humanity focuses on the day when Maitreya declares Himself openly as World Teacher for the Age of Aquarius. It describes the process of Maitreya's emergence, the steps leading to the Day of Declaration, and humanity's response to this momentous experience. Of the Day of Declaration Benjamin Creme's Master says: "Never, before, will men have heard the call to their divinity, the challenge to their presence here on Earth. Each, singly, and solemnly alone, will know for that time the purpose and meaning of their lives, will experience anew the grace of childhood, the purity of aspiration cleansed of self. For these precious minutes, men will know afresh the joy of full participation in the realities of Life, will feel connected one to another, like the memory of a distant past." This prophetic book gives the reader hope and expectancy for the joyful, world-changing events which are on their way.

About this title

Review:

The Awakening of Humanity by Benjamin Creme - A book review by Carmen Font There is much talk in the media that the current economic crisis in the world is awakening humanity to different approaches to reality. Many refer to a new political consciousness, where various groups of people practice renewed forms of activism and come together to tackle specific problems in the economic or the social field. This raising of people's power can be compared to the awakening that Benjamin Creme says that humanity will experience on the Day of Declaration. The working out and meaning of this Day is dealt with in detail in Benjamin Creme's book The World Teacher for All Humanity [see review in the May 2014 issue of SI]. But the immediate and lasting effects of this event are the focus of further attention in the 'companion volume', The Awakening of Humanity. The book begins with the author's preface, in which he reminds us of the essential events of the Day of Declaration and their significance. This is followed by a reprint of the article 'To serve anew' by Benjamin Creme's Master, in which among its invaluable insights we read that "suddenly, men will realize that their life till now was a shallow thing, lacking, for the majority, all that makes life dear: brotherhood and justice, creativeness and love" (p.5). These words by the Master capture the essence of this awakening that will take place on the Day of Maitreya's full public emergence. The first part of the book is devoted to clarifying the ways in which humanity will take stock of their new situation. In the first place, they will understand that Hierarchy exists. This will be a major eye-opener for millions of people, who, regardless of their belief systems, will come to accept the existence of a group of Wise Men who are, and have always been, willing to help us. All of a sudden, concepts such as 'rebirth' will change the outlook of so many people who will see that death is not an ending and that our lives are made up from the consequences of our thoughts and actions. They will also come to understand that we are not alone in the universe: apart from our Planetary Hierarchy, there are other enlightened beings in cosmos, and some of them are also here on Earth to help us. These might be regarded as 'practical matters' that, nevertheless, will have an enormous influence on the progressive awakening of humanity to its own reality as a soul in incarnation. Singly, and solemnly alone Even though the Day of Declaration will be a global event involving every person older than 14 years, it will still hold an intimate quality. In these "precious minutes", the Master says, each person, "singly and solemnly alone, will know for that time the purpose and meaning of their lives" (p.15). It is a magnificent statement about the quintessential paradox of humanity. We wish and need to live as a group, within our local and global communities, but our most fundamental decisions have first to be taken alone on an individual basis in our own consciousness. In fact, the history of the world could be summarized as the struggle to reconcile individual needs and claims with those of the larger communities of which we are a part. It is no wonder that as an immediate after-effect of the Day of Declaration, humanity will experience a distinct sense of "joy", where we will gain a sense of the divinity of the soul and the joy of living. Humanity will feel "connected to one another even though they do not see one another because they will know that everyone in the world is undergoing the same experience" (p.17). This feeling will not be registered as a form of euphoria, but something perhaps closer to a sense of bliss. It will lay the foundations of our awakening, which is already taking place but in a much slower and less conscious manner. Most people who work proactively for change in the economic and political fields, for instance, are already expressing different intensities of this blissful state, since their actions are animated consciously or unconsciously by a desire to dignify the living conditions of humanity. On the Day of Declaration, the impact of this feeling of joy and connection with "all that is" will be so intense that it cannot be denied. As Benjamin Creme comments on his Master's article, "many will know for the first time that they count, that they matter in the scheme of things" (p.19). Bearing in mind the millions of people who cope with a sense of frustration and disappointment with the ways of the world, this sentence suggests a treasure trove. When we look into this aspect of humanity's awakening we realize how badly we are living now both in material and, most importantly, in spiritual terms. Many are deprived of their own potential as individuals, since competition, greed and selfishness tend to erode any expression of goodwill and creativity. Many people feel at a loss as to how to conduct themselves morally, and find it difficult to reconcile their best aspirations and efforts towards good human relationships with rampant self-interest and disregard for the well-being of others. However, the new awakening that Maitreya promises to us will bolster our "self-esteem", our sense of confidence in humanity, and, above all, will provide a "spirit of sanctity" (p.22). For the first time we will grasp the real meaning of being human and act upon it. Only then, can the work of "rehabilitation" in so many departments of life truly begin. The practical details of the political and economic changes that the world urgently needs can be perused in the trilogy of Maitreya's Mission. The essence of The Awakening of Humanity is the full understanding that these world changes will take place as a result of a single and collective act of free will sealed in a momentous turning point for the evolution of humanity: an inner transformation that will be awakened by our experience and acceptance of Hierarchy on the Day of Declaration. Thus we will advance in "humble pride" (p.31), which is defined by Benjamin Creme as the way forward for the groups and individuals who have participated in making known the Reappearance of the Christ. These will have the experience and the desire to serve anew by informing others about the actual work of reconstruction, and they will be called for further service in humility, while knowing that they have already partaken in the outreach before this "Day of Days". Hands-on in Love and Wisdom The central part of The Awakening of Humanity is devoted to some specific aspects of the most immediate work after the Day of Declaration. The approach of Maitreya is 'hands-on', and will invite us to act likewise in matters such as the ending of poverty (p.55), pollution and global warming (p.56-7) or the Israeli/Palestinian problem (p.59-60). The Masters have not established a specific timescale in this regard, since according to Benjamin Creme "it is a question of the will of the people of the area: they make the timescale". This chapter lays out for us the pressing work ahead in a way that highlights the strengthening of the bonds between Hierarchy and humanity by dint of this new awakening in consciousness. Our communication or rapport with the Masters will be closer. While direct telepathy can only be initiated by a Master with regard to a disciple, the new awakening will intensify not only a desire for hands-on service, but also a more focused mental attitude (p.63). "How do you measure the degree of spirituality in a person?" asks Benjamin Creme. Every aspect in life can be made spiritual - politics, economics, science - since we live in a "spiritual universe [and] it could not be otherwise" (p.68). But we have the most corrupted political and economic structures because we have not placed our focus on creating the best possible conditions to live together and share our resources equitably. Instead, due to ignorance and lack of love, we have used politics and economics to further our own selfishness. The Awakening of Humanity is a succinct, most useful account of what it takes for humanity to be prepared for furthering change in the world. The Day of Declaration will trigger an inner fire in most people, but the new realization and awakening that comes with it is a necessary condition for serving the needs of the world soon after that. It cannot happen otherwise, since thought precedes action. This is why Benjamin Creme clarifies at the end of this section, and in the customary format of question and answers, some points about "what we should do" to prepare ourselves for the Day of Declaration (p.73). He also clarifies doubts from readers about the actual unfoldment of these events. One of them says "I believe it [the information about Maitreya], but it also seems unreal" (p.73). "Maitreya's coming is about world change," replies Benjamin Creme. "Change in our understanding of the needs of the planet, the ecological balance; the change in our economic systems" (p.73). We will see how these changes impact on our life and this will give us the "proof" and a deep conviction about the reality of Maitreya's message. Most of us have already experienced the feeling that although spiritual truths do not always follow a rational logic, they make perfect sense. The last section of The Awakening of Humanity illustrates some of the signs that the Son of Man (Maitreya) is near: patterns of light, the 'Hand' of Maitreya. A full esoteric glossary helps clarify some concepts. But the main substance of this book is to be found in its prophetic quality: the message that the spiritual nature of humanity is rising and will continue to do so. Biographical Note: Carmen Font is a writer and academic based in Barcelona, Spain.

About the Author:

Scottish-born painter and esotericist Benjamin Creme has for over 30 years been preparing the world for the most extraordinary event in human history - the return of our spiritual mentors to the everyday world. Benjamin Creme has appeared on television, radio and in documentary films worldwide and lectures throughout Western and Eastern Europe, the USA, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico. Trained and supervised over many years by his own Master, he began his public work in 1974. In 1982 he announced that the Lord Maitreya, the long-awaited World Teacher, was living in London, ready to present Himself openly when invited by the media to do so. This event is now imminent. Benjamin Creme continues to carry out his task as messenger of this inspiring news. His books, fourteen at present, have been translated into many languages. He is also the editor of Share International magazine, which circulates in over 70 countries. He accepts no money for any of this work. Benjamin Creme lives in London, is married, and has three children.

About this edition

• Publisher: Share International Foundation
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 9071484416
• ISBN 13: 9789071484414
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 146