| AGE OF THE SOULAlthough generally speaking, | | | | and prophets. Many of these entities now hold |
| spirit essence is ageless and eternal, it is possible | | | | important positions in the spiritual government |
| to classify souls in terms of its evolutionary | | | | headed by Sanat Kumara.The purpose of the |
| unfoldment or development. Here we do not | | | | Spiritual Hierarchy is to guide and assist humanity's |
| speak of the origin of the soul, for from a certain | | | | evolutionary struggle towards higher levels, |
| occult point of view, not all human souls originated | | | | towards the fifth kingdom--the kingdom of the |
| at the same "time" or from the same imaginary | | | | gods and even beyond. Their goal is to release |
| point in space. According to this viewpoint, not all | | | | humanity from all of its self-imposed limitations |
| humans are of the same spiritual race. Our many | | | | and false beliefs preventing the attainment of |
| racial conflicts have its source in the very depth | | | | god-hood, divinity, and immortality. The members |
| of our souls where our metaphysical blueprints are | | | | of the Hierarchy teach every person the way out |
| diverse and heterogeneous. In the channeled | | | | of the cycle of reincarnation, and the elimination |
| teachings of the New Age, our points of origin are | | | | of karma.As mentioned above, the many |
| associated with certain constellations in the starry | | | | initiations that the Spiritual Hierarchy conducts |
| sky.The so-called age of the soul may be | | | | relates to the various stages of humanity's |
| determined in various ways and there are many | | | | evolution. These initiatory ceremonies are either |
| forms of classifications. These methods of | | | | formally or informally given. They usually take |
| determining the evolutionary stage of the soul | | | | place in the higher dimensions, those above the |
| assists us to greatly understand the behavioral | | | | astral planes. The candidates of these initiations |
| patterns and mental/spiritual differences in human | | | | experience them in the Out-of-the-Body state, |
| beings.We call some of the various methods of | | | | and is normally recalled during the waking state as |
| classifying soul development, "the Caste-System," | | | | a "lucid dream."The consciousness of life begins at |
| "the Planetary Initiatory System," and "the | | | | the mineral level. It progresses to the plant |
| Chronological-Aging System." Each system has its | | | | kingdom, moving on to the animal kingdom, and |
| own method of delineating soul-progress. We | | | | finally enters the human stage. The human |
| believe that psychology would improve its | | | | kingdom is marked by various evolutionary |
| understanding of the human psyche if it took the | | | | phases. Most people have passed the early |
| issue of soul-age under consideration.The Caste | | | | primitive stage of humanity's collective |
| SystemAccording to the Hindus, thousands of | | | | evolution--and when we say "primitive," we refer |
| years ago Manu, the progenitor of humanity, | | | | to the consciousness aspect and not to form. The |
| instituted the caste system called jati in Sanskrit. | | | | Hierarchy's consideration of mankind, therefore |
| In this system there are four classes called varna. | | | | begins with the stage of the average person. |
| The highest varna is the Brahmin, the priests and | | | | When the average person begins to awaken |
| scholars. Next in rank is the warrior/ruler-caste, | | | | spiritually, he is considered an aspirant. This is |
| called Kshatriya. Below this are the merchants and | | | | analogous to the stage of novice in any religious |
| the farmers--the Vaisyas. The lowest class is that | | | | institution. After this stage comes the grade of |
| of the Sudras, the laborers. Outside of the class | | | | discipleship.After many tests, a disciple qualifies for |
| systems are the "Untouchables." These are the | | | | his first initiation. There are 9 initiations associated |
| Dravidians, the original inhabitants of the land | | | | with this planet. At each stage and initiation there |
| colonized by the Aryans. This caste-system is still | | | | are certain soul qualities that the person has to |
| in existence today, however, its rigidity has | | | | develop, certain traits and habits that has to be |
| caused a great amount of civil problems and | | | | eliminated, and certain tasks carried-out. It is a |
| unrest; fortunately though, numerous political and | | | | person's soul-development or expression that |
| social reformers have caused positive changes | | | | gives us a clue as to where he or she stands on |
| and abolished many of the caste-system strict | | | | the evolutionary scale or spiritual path as |
| rules.According to the exponents of the caste | | | | reckoned by the Hierarchy. Most saints and |
| system every soul is born into the caste in | | | | prophets are third and fourth degree initiates. The |
| accord with its karma. If one is born in a lower | | | | fifth initiation marks the level of the "Perfect |
| caste, it is because of its karma. Only if it | | | | Man."Generally speaking, the initiate of the first |
| ameliorated its karmic condition would it be born in | | | | degree strives to overcome and balance the |
| a higher caste in a next life. Members of a certain | | | | physical appetites and instincts. The second |
| caste were not allowed to marry those of | | | | degree initiate works upon purifying and |
| another class. In such a strict system the | | | | harmonizing the emotional nature. The third |
| opportunity to progress was not provided. The | | | | degree initiate has the onus of purifying, |
| lower class eventually became the slaves of the | | | | developing, and transcending the mind. The human |
| higher.Although the physical form of the | | | | ego would have to be eliminated or transcended |
| caste-system is abhorrent to the fine, sensitive | | | | in the fourth initiation. Perfection is attained in the |
| nature of the evolved soul, its essence has a | | | | fifth initiation. What lies above that, the sixth-ninth |
| basis in truth. Spiritually speaking, every person | | | | degree, is beyond the understanding of the lower |
| belongs to one of the class of the caste system. | | | | degree initiates and the average person. Between |
| In other words, our soul functions at a certain | | | | two initiations there are several minor ones, not all |
| caste-level and it eventually evolves through all of | | | | of which are celebrated in a ceremonious manner. |
| the castes. At present we may function at a | | | | The various events in the life of Jesus as |
| Sudra-consciousness level, or a | | | | recorded in the New Testament represents the |
| Ksatriya-consciousness level, etc. From the | | | | planetary initiations. This is a hidden truth not yet |
| spiritual point of view, there are also classes | | | | understood by orthodox Christianity. The gospel |
| above the Brahmin level. These are the great | | | | stories are actually narratives of our own |
| souls, men and women who have reached the | | | | soul-journey and development.Not all of the |
| state of perfection.Briefly, the soul begins its | | | | initiations are attained in one incarnation. It takes |
| evolutionary journey as an Untouchable, this is the | | | | many lives to pass through them. Because of this |
| soul-stage where one simply struggles to survive. | | | | a person may be born as a second or third |
| One has no concept of sin at this stage, one | | | | degree initiate; a first or fourth degree initiate; or |
| simply lives according to the basic instincts. The | | | | even as an average person who has not yet set |
| Untouchables are simple, ignorant people. Their | | | | his foot on the path of spiritual unfoldment. Our |
| mentality and spirituality are not yet awakened. | | | | children may be more advanced than us, spiritually |
| At the next stage, as a Sudra, the soul has | | | | speaking, just as candidates may be more highly |
| evolved an egoic sense and begins to work for | | | | developed than their seniors when they are first |
| self-aggrandizement and self-centered purposes. | | | | accepted or initiated into a spiritual |
| As a Vaisya the soul becomes very ambitious | | | | organization.The Chronological Aging |
| and materialistic and seeks money for its sake | | | | SystemAnother method of gauging the soul's age |
| alone. The Vaisya cares for none but for self | | | | is what we personally call the Chronological Aging |
| alone. Everything that exists the Vaisya seeks to | | | | System. This method has attained some publicity |
| own. The Ksatriya on the other hand has evolved | | | | when the manuscript, "The Michael's Handbook" |
| a sense of responsibility. He seeks to serve | | | | was published; however, this system is not new |
| humanity, however, his attempts are still tainted | | | | and have been taught by mystics throughout the |
| by his ego which is now functioning in a subtle | | | | ages.Basically, this system follows the same |
| manner. The Brahmin has commenced to | | | | chronological stages that an organism goes |
| renounce the many vices and negative traits that | | | | through in its life. An organism begins its life as an |
| acted as hurdles towards his spiritual progress. | | | | infant and progresses in the following stages: |
| There is now little ego left in him. He often has a | | | | baby, youth (young), adult (mature), and the aged |
| mystical disposition. In his mind and heart he often | | | | (old). Now the soul also undergoes all of the above |
| feels that he has "seen it all" and "have known it | | | | stages in its development, and even more. Those |
| all." This results in his distaste for the mundane | | | | souls that have passed the stage of "Old-soul" |
| world, and he usually becomes a renunciate. The | | | | may be said to be Transcendent and Infinite souls. |
| Brahminic soul finds more pleasure in things of the | | | | At each stage or age there are seven sub-stages |
| spirit rather than in worldly pleasures.From the | | | | or levels. At every level and every stage, the soul |
| above we can see the hypothetical situation | | | | has identifying traits and characteristics, and these |
| where a Vaisya, spiritually speaking, is born into a | | | | have positive and negative aspects. Generally |
| physical Ksatriya caste, or becomes president of | | | | speaking, by knowing the traits of someone we |
| a country. This results in a ruler with tyrannical | | | | may tell their soul age, and hence, where they |
| tendencies. Someone who misuses the trust that | | | | stand in their evolution. Below is a table of the |
| people places upon him. He exploits his position in | | | | soul stages and their basic traits as described in |
| order to own and acquire the riches of the world | | | | the book "Michael's Handbook," written by Jose |
| for self-centered purposes.We can see the | | | | Stevens.[Please visit this page for table: Infant |
| difference in soul development as related to class | | | | souls are more concerned with survival issues |
| by an individual's understanding of the concept of | | | | than anything else, and they often live far from |
| power. Each class has its own characteristical | | | | the complexities of technological societies. It is |
| understanding of the word "power." Ask someone | | | | said that Infant souls tend to congregate in the |
| with a Sudra soul-development what his | | | | equator for survival is much easier and simpler |
| understanding of power is. He will show you his | | | | there. Negatively, Infant souls are aggressive, |
| muscles--"muscle-power." The Vaisya on the | | | | animalistic, fearful, superstitious, and ignorant. Their |
| other hand, will declare that money is power, or | | | | redeeming qualities are simplicity, child-like, |
| even that psychism is power. To the Ksatriya, | | | | psychical, and instinctive.Baby souls are those |
| position, rank, or office is power . . . perhaps his | | | | beings that strictly play the rules of society. They |
| sword too. Brahmins would maintain knowledge to | | | | are unshakeable in their beliefs and they have a |
| be power. The person who said that the pen is | | | | tendency to succumb to fanaticism, whether it be |
| mightier than the sword was a Brahmin. The | | | | religion or some other. Baby souls are comfortable |
| higher spiritual classes without doubt would declare | | | | with formal rites and ceremonies and are strict |
| love to be the highest power.Though the | | | | conformist to the tenets of theological dogmas. |
| Caste-system has four, five, or even six classes, | | | | The good aspects of Baby souls might include |
| they are not clearly distinct. In some cases we | | | | loyalty and obedience, while their negative aspects |
| have an overlapping of classes. For instance, a | | | | dogmatism, pettiness, and brutality.Young souls |
| soul may be a Sudra-Vaisya, or a Vaisya-Ksatriya, | | | | are struggling to express their innate identity, their |
| etc. Or a much more precise way of classifying | | | | divinity; however, they mistakenly do this by |
| this is to consider each class as having four | | | | asserting their false ego, by misusing power, and |
| sub-classes. The following is an example: | | | | by manipulating others. Hence, with such tactics, |
| Sudra-Sudra, Vaisya-Sudra, Ksatriya-Sudra, and | | | | they are often the conflict-makers. They are |
| Brahmin-Sudra. The next set of sub-classes would | | | | possessive in nature and are deeply concerned |
| be Sudra-Vaisya, Vaisya-Vaisya, Ksatriya-Vaisya, | | | | with power issues. They love to be known and |
| etc. This would make 16 sub-classes in all, and | | | | worshipped and are often the success-hunters. |
| each sub-class would have its own | | | | Young souls are ambitious and competitive and |
| characteristics.We can also see how the pattern | | | | ever seek to be prominent in their field of |
| of the caste-syetem corresponds with the | | | | expertise. They are great winners but sore losers. |
| four-fold personality of the microcosm: | | | | They are materialistically and atheistically oriented, |
| Sudra--physical body; Vaisya--astral or emotional | | | | and are greatly fearful of death. They love luxury |
| body; Ksatriya--the lower mental (concrete mind); | | | | and the many comforts of life. Positive traits of |
| Brahmin--the higher mental (the abstract | | | | Young souls are productiveness and |
| mind).The Planetary Initiatory SystemIn order to | | | | industriousness. Negatively, they are competitive, |
| understand the planetary initiations and its | | | | self-righteous, manipulative, and given to |
| relationship to the stages of soul-unfoldment, we | | | | exploitation.Mature souls are less materialistic than |
| should first discuss briefly the meaning of initiation | | | | their younger brethren. Relationships, cultural and |
| and the institution behind it.Initiation may be | | | | intellectual pursuits are of more importance to |
| defined as the "act of inducing, introducing, or | | | | Mature souls than the lower activities of the |
| instructing." It is often ritualistic in nature and is to | | | | personality. This is the stage where the soul |
| be found in various social ceremonies. Fraternal | | | | commences to search for a meaning in life. The |
| organizations often extend an initiation to their | | | | soul begins to feel an emptiness in its heart for all |
| member-candidates to impress upon their minds | | | | the mundane things that it sought after in the |
| the importance of the step that they would be | | | | early stages offered no lasting enjoyment. |
| taking. There are many forms of initiation related | | | | Mentally, it begins to be open-minded, is |
| to the life of a human being; for instance, birth, | | | | introspective, and commences its inquiry into the |
| adolescence, adulthood, parenthood, etc.-all of | | | | nature of Truth. Mature souls have a sense of |
| these are stages of growth and in certain cultures | | | | caring, they are perceptive, and are open to |
| they are marked by certain initiatory rituals. | | | | others-these are their positive traits. Negatively, |
| These rituals are often called rites of passage. | | | | they can be over-attached, over-emotional, and |
| Initiation in that sense, is an announcement or | | | | neurotic.Old souls are the teachers and guides of |
| revelation of what one has attained, or reached.In | | | | the younger souls. Having experienced life and its |
| schools of esotericism, initiations are given to | | | | many facets, spiritually speaking, they are the |
| candidates requesting occult wisdom. In such | | | | ones among human souls most qualified to show |
| initiatory ceremonies, mystic instructions are often | | | | others the Way. Usually, they possess not mere |
| conveyed to the one being initiated. Often the | | | | intellectual knowledge of Universal Truths, but |
| candidate had to undergo certain tests and trials | | | | have experienced them personally through |
| to prove his worthiness. In the Initiatory schools | | | | soul-perception. Old souls enjoy their freedom and |
| of Ancient Egypt, for instance, the candidate had | | | | have a sense of inter-relatedness. All things to the |
| to face the challenges of the four elements. | | | | Old soul are inseparable from itself, and are but |
| These trials would reveal whether the candidate | | | | aspects of itself. They see and feel God in |
| had the necessary qualifications, such as sincerity, | | | | everything. From the perspective of Young souls, |
| courage, determination, perseverance, etc., in | | | | old timers are sometimes hard to fathom. The |
| order to progress in the occult teachings and to | | | | Old ones seem to lack any powerful ambition, |
| preserve them from misuse. When these arduous | | | | motivation, and enthusiasm for earthly life. They |
| tests had been completed the candidate would be | | | | appear to be detached, reticent, and aloof. Old |
| led to a special chamber where he or she would | | | | souls enjoy unorthodox spiritual practices, and |
| be caused to experience what has been called, | | | | alternative forms of healing. They are esoterically |
| "dying while living." Through mystic methods the | | | | inclined--always searching for the inner truths in |
| high priest conducting the initiation would release | | | | religion rather than conforming to its formalities; |
| the ka, the "soul" from the candidate's corporeal | | | | they are more spiritually aware than the soul |
| form. In these initiations yogic instructions are | | | | groups of any other soul stage. Old souls are |
| given to the initiated one to practice. In most | | | | adept in choosing and expressing any of their |
| initiatory systems, there are three stages of | | | | past-life personalities according to the situations |
| occult advancement--each stage represented by | | | | that they face in life. They might appear |
| an initiation. In the initiatory systems of ancient | | | | authoritative one moment, and at another they |
| Egypt, these three steps are referred to as the | | | | may act docile, sweet and innocent. Old souls |
| initiations of Osiris, Isis, and Serapis.Planetary | | | | know that life is a play and that they are merely |
| initiations are quite different from what we have | | | | actors playing roles. From the viewpoint of Baby |
| discussed thus far. Man is in a state of evolution, | | | | and Young souls, the Old ones with their spiritual |
| and every stage of his unfoldment is marked by | | | | vision and mystical understanding are simply |
| an initiation. Often these initiations are ritualistically | | | | heretical. Old souls have often been persecuted |
| conducted by the members of the Planetary | | | | and executed by the ignorant younger souls. The |
| Spiritual Hierarchy. This Spiritual Hierarchy is the | | | | Young ones tend to attack what they fear and |
| unseen government of this planet.The Spiritual | | | | do not understand in the Old ones and thus |
| Hierarchy, according to the Ancient Wisdom, was | | | | create unnecessary karma. The Old soul is |
| established about 18 million years ago by an | | | | easygoing, eccentric, kind, gentle, loving, insightful, |
| interplanetary being from Venus called Sanat | | | | intuitive, and harmless, these are just some of |
| Kumara. This exalted entity is the god or | | | | their positive traits; Old souls have very little |
| president-director of planet earth. It was he who | | | | negative traits and ego left, although there are |
| sent many beings to appear on the world scene | | | | some "species" that can seemingly be obnoxious |
| to instruct humankind on the Path of Truth, Love | | | | for certain karmic reasons. Old souls are at times |
| and Wisdom. These beings are our avatars, saints | | | | lazy, weird, and unmotivated. |