The definition of religion which will in the future prove of greater accuracy than any yet formulated by the theologians might be expressed as follows: Religion is the name given to the invocative appeal of humanity and the evocative response of the greater Life to that cry. 3. It lies in the failure to sacrifice the personality at all times and at any cost, in order to make the intuitive realisation a fact in physical manifestation. The releasing of certain energies which can potently affect humanity, and which will, if released, stimulate the spirit of love, of brotherhood and of goodwill on the earth.

The Great Invocation, used by humanity since 1945, has become an integral part of the work of the Festivals and of preparation for the reappearance of the Christ. As men understand and avail themselves of the opportunity offered at the Festival, they place themselves in line with a particular spiritual force. One point I must make here and I make it with great joy: This year (1946) marks the beginning of a cycle in which humanity is more closely involved in the Festivals than ever before and in which they can take a much more important part than ever before. From the centre where the Will of God is known

It seems to some Occidental aspirants that the time has now come when Occident and Orient can gather together spiritually in one great Festival and communion of souls.

These aspects and qualities will be arrived at and determined by a close study of the nature of a particular constellation or constellations influencing those months. May not the new and coming world religion be built up around this idea, and may it not be that the work of the Church Universal in the New Age will be centred around the periods of the full moon each month, and develop into a Science of Approach, or a Technique of Spiritual Contact? Let us sum up what we shall seek to do as each Wesak Festival comes around and–in a lesser manner–at the time of each monthly full moon. 5. Men will desire and demand right human relations–a result more general than that produced by the activity of the first three aspects of this ray, but which will be a natural outcome of this activity. The Festival of Easter. Speaking symbolically, and remembering that symbols always veil a truth, it might be [10] stated that, at the time of the full moon, it is as if a door were suddenly opened wide, which at other times stands closed.

Thus, the twelve annual festivals will constitute a revelation of divinity. The mystics of the world are primarily engrossed with their own spiritual development, with seeing visions for themselves and the effects on them. In the future world, when organised, all men of spiritual inclination and intention everywhere will keep the same holy days. 1. To some, they stand as symbols of great spiritual realities; to others they simply mean a holiday, or a day for the giving of gifts or for the exchanging of visits. Up towards the northern end, close to the neck of the bottle, there is to be found a huge flat rock. The New Group of World Servers, disciples and aspirants. The unified invocative thought of the masses and the focussed, directed thought of the New Group of World Servers constitute an outgoing stream of energy. The establishing of [15] such a channel by the world aspirants is today taking place. The waiting and (at this time) anxious Hierarchy–anxious because even They cannot tell how humanity will react and whether men will be wise enough to avail themselves of the proffered opportunity. It was twenty years later, when I read a description of the Wesak Festival, that I discovered that it was that which I must have seen. He has been constituted the direct intermediary between the earth and the Buddha, Who is, in His turn, consecrated intermediary between the entire waiting Hierarchy and the attentive Forces. We can keep the channel open between the world thinkers and workers and the inner spiritual group of Knowers and Servers. They will present a means of bringing about relationship, first of all, during three months with the three great spiritual Centres, the three expressions of the divine Trinity. The water, which has been magnetised by the presence of the Buddha and of the Christ, carries certain properties and virtues of a healing and helpful nature. Thus the greatest event upon our planet, from the standpoint of the spiritual verities, and the one which has the greatest effect upon the human race, is therefore the Wesak Festival. It is this group that can be brought most definitely en rapport with the force transmitted, and with the spiritual stimulation applied, at the time of the Wesak Festival. The integration of a group of knowers and of mystics is going on steadily in all parts of the world, and members of this group are being gathered out of every organisation (political, scientific, economic and religious) and out of all [12] churches, all nations and all races. It starts within us, then expands through us. Here, however, is a momentous point of difference: Priesthood in these great and future "ceremonies of contact" will not be a separative and separated body of men. So, in life whenever you want something and then when you get it you are going to get it again and then it’s going to keep happening. Unfortunately, as yet, the race as a whole is not group conscious and therefore average humanity cannot be trusted to work, think and plan for the group. About 624 BC, Prince Siddhartha was born on the full moon day of Vesak full moon in North India. DINEL: Buddhism is a religion that started in India and has spread around Asia. The Wesak Festival Celebration & Spiritual Retreat From 6 May till 10 May 2020! These are the need of our fellowmen and the necessity of providing a group channel whereby the spiritual forces may become available. When this is truly realised our present world problems will adjust themselves, and the basic world rhythm will be re-established and stabilised.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. The chanting and the rhythmic weaving grows stronger, and all the participants and the watching crowd raise their eyes towards the sky in the direction of the narrow part of the valley. It means that after due preparation, dedication and upward striving for the first two days, on the day of the Festival itself we simply regard ourselves as the recipients of, or the custodians of, as much of that inflowing spiritual force as we can possibly hold. The will-to-love will stimulate the men of goodwill everywhere that hatred will gradually be overcome and men will seek to live together cooperatively. The truth lying behind all invocation is based upon the power of thought, particularly in its telepathic nature, rapport and aspect. It is surrounded by high mountains on all sides except towards the northeast, where there is a narrow opening in the mountain ranges.

One very interesting feature in connection with this Festival and its ceremonial enactment in Tibet lies in the fact that many orthodox Christians, who would scorn in any way to be associated with the Buddhist or Hindu faiths, bear testimony to this ceremony in their dream life. The period of the Wesak Festival has lately been extended to cover five days of work and service; that is, the two days preceding the full moon, the day of the Festival itself, and the two succeeding days. This is a group effort towards a vast group healing and by prayer (sanctified desire, illumined thought and intense aspirational longing) and by the discipline of the physical body for a short period and for a definite objective, the work can be done. Year after year He and His great Brother, the Christ, work in the closest cooperation for the spiritual benefit of humanity. … It is the intention of the Buddha and the Christ that in each country there shall eventually be someone who will act as Their Representative at the time of the two Festivals, so that the distribution of spiritual energy from the first great Aspect or Ray will be direct from the Buddha (and later Shamballa) to the Christ and then from the Christ to those disciples in every country who can be overshadowed and so act as channels for the direct current of energy.

The will-to-organise will further a building process which will be carried forward under the direct inspiration of the Hierarchy. This will colour our new church rituals and indicate the emerging truth about the Path of return to God. When a dream seems uniformly the same when registered by different people all over the world, when the details of the [7] dream remain unchanged, and when it is found that the dream is based upon a definite ceremonial which did take place at the time, there is surely room for much discussion, for the evocation of a real interest, and perhaps for the evidence of testimony to a fact. It comes nearer and nearer, and grows in clarity and definiteness of outline, until the form of the Buddha can be seen, seated in the cross-legged Buddha position, clad in His saffron-coloured robe, bathed in light and colour, and with His hand extended in blessing.

The only qualification required will be the capacity to align oneself and be en rapport with the soul, and thus be able to cooperate with all other souls.

They become vitalised by it, and spiritually stimulated, and are consequently rendered available for service. The will-to-action will lead intelligent people throughout the world to inaugurate those activities which will lay the foundation for a new, better and happier world. The New Group of World Servers, composed at this time of all those sensitive and consecrated servers of the race whose objective is world peace, who aim at the establishing of goodwill on earth as the basis for future living and world expansion. It will call forth from Them a responsive magnetic impulse. It is celebrated on the day of the full moon in the month of May. The month of May usually has one full moon, but as there are 29.5 days between full moons, occasionally there are two. (Rays II-pp. Such appeals, if they are to penetrate into the world of spiritual realities, gain added power if they can be focussed at particular periods.

There, so the legend runs, there gathers a group of those great Beings Who are the Custodians on Earth of God's Plan for our planet and for humanity.