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The Texts of Alice A. Bailey: an Inquiry Into the Role of Esotericism in Transforming Consciousness

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The Texts of Alice A. Bailey: an Inquiry Into the Role of Esotericism in Transforming Consciousness THE TEXTS OF ALICE A. BAILEY: AN INQUIRY INTO THE ROLE OF ESOTERICISM IN TRANSFORMING CONSCIOUSNESS I Wightman Doctor of Philosophy 2006 University of Western Sydney. IN APPRECIATION This thesis would not have been possible without the care, support, enthusiasm and intellectual guidance of my supervisor, Dr Lesley Kuhn, who has followed my research journey with dedicated interest throughout. I also acknowledge the loving kindness of Viveen at Sydney Goodwill, who has continuously praised and encouraged my work, and provided me with background material on the kind of activities that the worldwide community of Alice A. Bailey students are involved in. I sincerely appreciate the role my husband, Greg, played, as my cosmic co-traveller. Without him this thesis would never have materialized, his tireless engagement throughout these years has bolstered my drive to proceed to the very end. Finally, I acknowledge my children, Victoria and Elizabeth, for tolerating my reclusive behaviour, and giving me the space I have needed to write. Philosophy, in one of its functions, is the critic of cosmologies. It is its function to harmonise, refashion, and justify divergent intuitions as to the nature of things. It has to insist on the scrutiny of ultimate ideas, and on the retention of the whole of the evidence in shaping our cosmological scheme. Its business is to render explicit, and –so far as may be – efficient, a process which otherwise is unconsciously performed without rational tests (Alfred North Whitehead 1938:7). TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Letter Code for the Bailey Texts v Abstract vi Chapter 1 Researching the work of Alice A. Bailey 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Introducing Alice A. Bailey 2 1.3 Research Motivations Made Explicit: Contributing to a New Perspective? 4 1.4 Circumscribing Limits of the Current Work 5 1.5 Research Paradigm 7 1.5.1 A Constructivist Epistemology 8 1.5.2 A Constructivist Axiology 11 1.6 Research Approach 13 1.7 Thesis Structure 16 Chapter 2 Constructing a Research Approach 2.1 Introduction 18 2.2 Research Methods and Esoteric Texts 18 2.3 Research Design: Knowledge and Knowing 2.4 Revisited 21 2.4.1 Researching Esotericism and Phenomenology 25 2.4.2 Incorporating Hermeneutics 27 2.4.3 Esotericism and a Heuristic Method 29 2.5 My Research Journey 33 2.4.1 A Selection of Bailey’s Texts 37 Chapter 3 Western Esotericism 3.1 Introduction 40 3.2 Approaching Esotericism 40 3.2.1 Ways to Describe Esotericism 40 3.2.2 Esotericism as Spiritual Practice 3.3 Identifying Motifs in Western Esotericism 47 3.4 Some Characteristics of an Esoteric Epistemology 52 3.5 Theosophy as Esotericism 59 3.5.1 Bailey and the Theosophical Society 60 3.5.2 Bailey as a Theosophical Exemplar 64 3.6 Conclusion 68 i Chapter 4 Alice A. Bailey’s Cosmology 4.1 Introduction 69 4.2 A Theory of Everything? 70 4.3 Entering Bailey’s Cosmology: Solar Logos 72 4.4 The second Logos and the evolution of consciousness 75 4.4.1 Evolution and Metaphysical Laws 77 4.5 Some of the complexities of Bailey’s cosmic scheme 78 4.5.1 Planes of manifestation 79 4.5.2 The Seven Rays 80 4.5.3 Humanity as Cells in Body Earth 82 4.6 Bailey’s use of the metaphor of fire as energy in motion 83 4.6.1 The Three Fires and Humanity 88 4.6.2 Interconnectedness through the notion of Prana 88 4.6.3 Interconnectedness through polarities and permanent atoms 90 4.6.4 Hylozoism 91 4.7 Bailey’s Model of the Human Constitution 93 4.7.1 The Soul 94 4.8 Discussion 97 4.8.1 Science and Esotericism 98 4.8.2 Evaluating Bailey’s Metaphysical Proposal 100 4.8.3 Bailey’s Cosmology as an Alternative Model of Evolution 106 4.9 Conclusion 114 Chapter 5 Alice Through the Looking Glass of Subjective Consciousness: Part 1 5.1 Introduction 116 5.2 Describing Transformations of Consciousness 118 5.3 Introducing Amelia Hewman 120 5.4 An Initial Conversation Between Amelia and Alice Bailey 121 5.4.1 Personality, Soul and Spirit 123 5.4.2 Preliminary Reflections on Bailey’s World Through Amelia’s Eyes 132 5.5 Amelia and Bailey’s Construct of the Seven Rays 133 5.5.1 Reflecting on Amelia’s Journey With Bailey’s Rays 139 5.6 A Concluding Pause 142 Chapter 6 Alice Through the Looking Glass of Subjective Consciousness: Part 2 6.1 Introduction 144 6.2 Bailey’s Notion of Initiation 145 6.3 Amelia and Bailey’s Initiations 149 ii 6.3.1 Amelia Describes Some Strange Experiences 155 6.4 Amelia and the Spiritual Path 158 6.5 Critical Commentary 162 6.5.1 Bailey’s Developmental Stage Model of Spiritual Progress 164 6.5.2 Ideological Problems 168 6.5.3 Amelia’s Difficulties with Correspondence 170 6.5.4 Amelia’s Strange Experience Revisited 172 6.6 Conclusion 173 Chapter 7 Alice Through the Looking Glass of Subjective Consciousness: Part 3 7.1 Introduction 175 7.2 Bailey’s Metaphors of Duality 175 7.2.1 Bailey Defines Intuition 179 7.3 Amelia’s Engagement with Bailey’s Concepts 181 7.3.2 Amelia Confronts Bailey’s Notion of the Dweller 185 7.4 An Evaluation of Amelia’s Journey along the Path 189 7.4.1 Evaluating Bailey’s use of Duality 190 7.4.2 A Problem of Adherence 195 7.5 Reflections on the Heuristic Process 202 7.6 Conclusion 205 Chapter 8 A New World Religion 8.1 Introduction 206 8.2 The Bailey Texts as A Revealed Theology 208 8.2.1 Guiding Governance as the Foundation of a New World Religion 209 8.3 Bailey’s Overly Simplistic Interpretation of World affairs 212 8.3.1 Problems with Predictions 215 8.3.2 Evaluating Bailey’s Avatars and the Second Coming Of Christ 216 8.3.3 A Critique of Bailey’s Theology as a New Age Hypothesis 219 8.3.4 Evaluating Bailey’s Free Will Argument 223 8.4 Right Human Relations, Goodwill and their expression in Service 227 8.4.1 Revelation and Transmission 231 8.5 Controversies 238 8.6 Conclusion 245 Chapter 9 Critical Reflections 9.1 Introduction 247 9.2 Judging Bailey through a Constructivist Axiology: Integrity, Aesthetics and Verisimilitude 248 9.2.1 An Ideology of Realism, Literal Truth and Occultistic Gnosis 249 iii 9.2.2 Implications of Adherence for a New Age Seeker 252 9.3 Judging Bailey: Verisimilitude, Aesthetics and Ontological Authenticity 256 9.3.1 Amelia’s Mystical Experience 257 9.3.2 Authenticity and Mystical Experience 258 9.3.3 Ontological Authenticity and Transforming Consciousness 261 9.3.4 Reflective Reasoning as a Catalytically Authentic Path 264 9.4 Judging Bailey: Ontological Authenticity and Integrity 266 9.4.1 Metaphor and Transforming Consciousness 266 9.4.2 Esoteric Veils 273 9.4.3 Technical Language 275 9.4.4 Metaphysics and Esotericism: The Word is Unknown 276 9.5 Judging Bailey: Catalytic Authenticity 277 9.5.1 Metaphysics, Morals and an Esoteric Way of Knowing 279 9.5.2 Paradox as an Inclusive Esoteric Way of Knowing 284 9.6 Reflecting Upon the Research Approach Using a Constructivist Axiology 288 9.6.1 Integrity 288 9.6.2 Vitality 289 9.6.3 Utility 290 9.7 Concluding Through Reflexivity: A Third Voice 291 Chapter 10 Concluding Remarks 10.1 Introduction 296 10.2 A Synthesis of Research Findings in the light of Constructivism 296 10.2.1 Evaluating Bailey through an Esoteric Epistemology 297 10.3 Bailey’s Contribution to a New Global Perspective 300 Appendices 303 References Cited 305 iv LETTER CODE FOR ALICE A. BAILEY’S TEXTS Ordered as per the list found in the front of every volume. Letter code from Master Index Of The Books of Alice A. Bailey (1998). IHS Initiation, Human and Solar LOM Letters on Occult Meditation CA The Consciousness of the Atom TCF A Treatise on Cosmic Fire LS The Light of the Soul SIM The Soul and Its Mechanism ITI From Intellect to Intuition TWM A Treatise on White Magic BC From Bethlehem to Calvary DNAI Discipleship in the New Age, Vol.I DNAII Discipleship in the New Age, Vol II PH Problems of Humanity RC The Reappearance of the Christ DN The Destiny of the Nations GWP Glamour: A World Problem TEV Telepathy and the Etheric Vehicle UA The Unfinished Autobiography ENA Education in the New Age EXH The Externalisation of the Hierarchy A Treatise on the Seven Rays EPI Esoteric Psychology, Vol I EPII Esoteric Psychology, Vol II EA Esoteric Astrology EH Esoteric Healing RI The Rays and the Initiations v ABSTRACT The Texts of Alice A. Bailey: An Inquiry into the Role of Esotericism in Transforming Consciousness This thesis places for consideration the esoteric teachings of Alice A. Bailey, written between 1919 and 1949, as part of the theosophical current of western esotericism. Bailey’s overarching concern for human betterment underpins her appropriation of esoteric thought, into a reformulation that incorporates her own version of Christian faith. Bailey argues that humanity faces a major turning point, involving a reorientation towards spiritual living. Alongside the vast number of contemporary writers seeking similar goals, Bailey’s work constitutes another voice attempting to foster such change. Investigating how well the esoteric contents of Bailey’s work serve her intention drives this research. I commence this inquiry by adopting a constructivist research paradigm within which I apply hermeneutic and heuristic research methods, informed by a phenomenological philosophy, to explore Bailey’s texts.
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