• About
  • Contact
  • English
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Nederlands

Share International

  • Home
  • Summary
  • In depth
    • Maitreya the World Teacher
      • Overview
      • Maitreya’s priorities
      • Maitreya’s emergence
      • Maitreya’s teachings
      • Maitreya and Jesus
      • Maitreya and other well-known figures
      • Maitreya’s Messages
      • Frequently asked questions about Maitreya
      • Articles about Maitreya from Share International magazine
    • Signs of Maitreya’s emergence
      • Overview
      • Crosses of light
      • Light patterns
      • Light blessings
      • Statues and icons
      • Appearances and visions
      • Healing waters
      • Maitreya in Nairobi
      • Maitreya’s hand
      • Maitreya’s ‘Star’
      • UFOs
      • Crop circles
    • The Ageless Wisdom Teaching
    • The Masters of Wisdom
    • Articles by Benjamin Creme’s Master
    • Transmission Meditation
    • Questions and answers
    • Glossary of esoteric terms
  • Resources
    • Share International magazine
    • Magazine subscriptions
    • Library of articles
    • Books
    • Suggested further reading
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Events
    • How can I help?
  • For news media
    • Introduction — some basic tenets
    • Who is Maitreya?
    • Who are the Masters of Wisdom?
    • What are Maitreya’s priorities?
    • Ten quick facts about Maitreya
    • What does this have to do with me?
    • What is Share International?
    • Who was Benjamin Creme?
    • Contact
  • About
  • Contact
  • English
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Nederlands
HomeArticlesAvatars down the ages

Avatars down the ages

  • Resources
  • Share International magazine
  • Magazine subscriptions
  • Library of articles
  • Books
  • Suggested further reading
  • Video
  • Audio
  • Events
  • How can I help?
Avatars down the ages
Felicity Eliot
Share International
February 1986
Avatars have brought successive revelations to humanity throughout history. Each Avatar brings some teaching which, correctly apprehended and gradually applied by humanity, expands our understanding and is the next step forward in our development.

The successive revelation to humanity of new aspects of reality has taken place throughout history and continues to do so, as the emergence of Maitreya, the Christ, demonstrates. In the West our knowledge is more or less confined to Christianity, but buried in most ancient myths and legends, and then later in holy scriptures, there are preserved records of the lives, presence and teachings of other, earlier teachers or Avatars.

Our focus on the achievements of Jesus in Palestine frequently blinds us to, or at least dims our appreciation of, the contribution of other Avatars and other faiths. This blinkered view of the unfoldment of humanity’s evolution makes the acceptance of the appearance of yet another teacher difficult for many Westerners. Each Avatar has brought some teaching which, correctly apprehended and gradually applied by humanity, expands our understanding and is the next step forward in our development.

Hercules
One of the first such teachers appeared so far back in time that it is impossible to say when he lived, but ancient legend carries the memory of His achievements: Hercules, a hero-teacher, portrayed “through the form of a pictorial and world drama (symbolic in nature) the concept oaf great objective, only to be reached as the result of struggle and difficulty.” (The Reappearance of the Christ, by Alice A. Bailey, Lucis Publishing Co.) He presented to humanity the concept of great tests and trials on the path back to the Father, the journey of evolution itself, epitomized and preserved in the Twelve Labors of Hercules. These are the tests all are subjected to prior to each initiation.

Vyasa
Vyasa was another great Avatar who brought to humanity the message that death is not the end. The impact of such an apparently simple concept was enormous, since it meant that the possibility now existed for identification with a higher immortal self rather than with the physical-plane life only.

The Buddha
There were many other lesser teachers between the time of Vyasa and the Buddha, but the Buddha was a major teacher who came to the East bringing enlightenment, the answers to the many questions which plague and puzzle humanity about its own existence. He came “to lay the foundation for a more enlightened approach to life, giving the teaching which would open the door to the work of the Christ who would, He knew, follow in His steps.” (Alice Bailey, The Reappearance of the Christ)

By giving out the Four Noble Truths, He answered man’s question: why? He taught that man’s suffering was of his own making, and that the focusing of desire on the material and the ephemeral caused all despair, hatred and competition, and was why “man found himself living in the realm of death — the realm of physical living…” His life, example and teachings prepared the way for the Christ. Coming approximately 500 years before the Christ, the Buddha was a manifestation of the Wisdom aspect of God, just as the Christ is the embodiment of the Love aspect. These two great Avatars continue to work together, the Buddha aiding and supporting Maitreya, the Christ, in His present mission to the world.

It is interesting to note that He who is known as the Buddha worked through His disciple, the Prince Gautama, in a way similar to that in which Maitreya, holder of the office of the Christ, overshadowed the disciple Jesus, who acted as His vehicle in Palestine. The Master Djwhal Khul says (in The Reappearance of the Christ by Alice Bailey) that, around about the time of the Christ’s return, the Buddha will send two trained disciples to reform Buddhism — this at a time when the Master Jesus will be taking certain initial steps towards reassuming control of His church. Buddhism, along with other religions, awaits the coming of another great teacher. He is known as Maitreya Buddha, the Fifth Buddha in the continuing line of divine revelation.

Krishna and Sankaracharya
Sri Krishna and Sankaracharya, two great Avatars, were both previous incarnations of Maitreya. Krishna appeared around 3000 BC, and Sankaracharya lived in about 800 BC. Sankaracharya gave “deep instruction upon the nature of the Self,” while Sri Krishna, by demonstrating the need to control the astral, emotional nature, opened the door to the second initiation. In Palestine, working through the disciple Jesus, Maitreya the Christ completed the work of the Buddha by manifesting the Love aspect of deity.

A comparison of all religions shows their common elements. “Eventually a new world religion will be inaugurated which will be a fusion and synthesis of the approaches of East and West. The Christ will bring together not simply Christianity and Buddhism, but the concept of God transcendent, outside His creation, and also the concept of God immanent in all creation.” Both approaches will come together in a new religion based on the Mysteries of Initiation and an informed knowledge of the Science of Invocation of Deity.

GAUTAMA FORESAW MAITREYA
“Now in those days, brethren, there shall arise in the world an Exalted One by name Maitreya (the Kindly One) an Arhat, a Fully Enlightened One, endowed with wisdom and righteousness, a Happy One, a World-knower, the Peerless Charioteer of men to be tamed, a teacher of the devas and mankind, an Exalted One, a Buddha like myself. He of His own abnormal powers shall realize and make known the world, and the worlds of the devas, with their Maras, their Brahmas, the host of recluses and brahmins, of devas and mankind alike, even as I do now. He shall proclaim the Norm, lovely in its beginning, lovely in its middle, and lovely in the end thereof. He shall make known the wholly perfect life of righteousness in all its purity, both in the spirit and in the letter of it, even as I do now. He shall lead an Order of Brethren numbering many thousands, even as I do now lead an order of Brethren numbering many hundreds.”
(Gautama the Buddha in DIGHA NIKAYA)

Felicity Eliot is chief editor of Share International magazine.  (see more)
Related articles
The Count of Saint-Germain, historical perspective – Part I (excerpt)
Dominique Abdelnour (Share International, April 2022)

This series of three articles attempts to present the life of Master Rakoczi when, in a former life, he was the Count of Saint-Germain in 18th century Europe. The first part will give some documented historical facts. The second part will present his talents and various occupations. The last part will indicate what is known about his activities after his official death in 1784.

Joan of Arc, a spiritual mission (excerpt)
Dominique Abdelnour (Share International, November 2021)

How could an uneducated 17-year-old peasant girl overthrow English rule in France, defy the powerful University of Paris, have a king crowned who would forge the kingdom of France, transform the clan quarrels of the feudal lords into a war of liberation of a country and a people, speak such beautiful French, and dominate a court?

In conversation with Jeremy Lent (excerpt)
An antidote to alienation — interview
Felicity Eliot (Share International, October 2021)

Our modern worldview is all about separation. Is there another way to live? What so many great wisdom traditions show us is that there is another way, based on the recognition of our deep interconnectedness.

The existence of the soul explained by science (excerpt)
Claude Chaboche (Share International, October 2021)

Dr Philippe Guillemant's model of the soul would make it possible to explain dark matter and energy, and for physics to regain all its explanatory potential and credibility. It could finally begin to understand all the phenomena it usually rejects as if they did not exist. It would make it possible to establish the existence of the soul.

Why going back to ‘normal’ is the worst thing we could do (excerpt)
Felicity Eliot (Share International, July/August 2021)

How would a person from another planet describe our times? Key traits seem to be selfishness, based in a sense of separateness which springs from a lack of connection with our true nature; greed, competition and complacency, which keep us addicted to materialism. Add to this diseased situation the lust for power, and the result is the enslavement of much of humanity today to commercialization and consumerism.

Maitreya’s approach to humanity, part two (excerpt)
Alexander Douwes Dekker (Share International, June 2021)

During the World War, Maitreya was invoked by humanity, as people everywhere went through untold hardship and suffering, crying out for succour and liberation, calling on Him as the Messiah, the Christ, the Bodhisattva and the Coming Avatar. The World Teacher stands prepared to come forward, as the Embodiment of Love and manifesting Wisdom and Will.

Maitreya’s Messages: What does He ask of us? (excerpt)
Journalist Patricia Pitchon reflects on the appeal Maitreya makes through His Messages
Patricia Pitchon (Share International, January/February 2021)

From 6 September 1977 until 27 May 1982 Benjamin Creme received a total of 140 messages from Maitreya during his weekly lectures at Friends House, Euston Road, London, through a process of mental overshadowing.

Felicity Eliot is chief editor of Share International magazine.  (see more)
Copyright © 1999-2023 Share International Privacy policy
Cookies are used to optimize the performance of this website. Please press 'Accept' or 'Reject', or click 'Privacy policy' for more information.
AcceptRejectPrivacy policy
Re-display Accept/Reject cookies

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
  • Home
  • Summary
  • In depth
    • Maitreya the World Teacher
      • Overview
      • Maitreya’s priorities
      • Maitreya’s emergence
      • Maitreya’s teachings
      • Maitreya and Jesus
      • Maitreya and other well-known figures
      • Maitreya’s Messages
      • Frequently asked questions about Maitreya
      • Articles about Maitreya from Share International magazine
    • Signs of Maitreya’s emergence
      • Overview
      • Crosses of light
      • Light patterns
      • Light blessings
      • Statues and icons
      • Appearances and visions
      • Healing waters
      • Maitreya in Nairobi
      • Maitreya’s hand
      • Maitreya’s ‘Star’
      • UFOs
      • Crop circles
    • The Ageless Wisdom Teaching
    • The Masters of Wisdom
    • Articles by Benjamin Creme’s Master
    • Transmission Meditation
    • Questions and answers
    • Glossary of esoteric terms
  • Resources
    • Share International magazine
    • Magazine subscriptions
    • Library of articles
    • Books
    • Suggested further reading
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Events
    • How can I help?
  • For news media
    • Introduction — some basic tenets
    • Who is Maitreya?
    • Who are the Masters of Wisdom?
    • What are Maitreya’s priorities?
    • Ten quick facts about Maitreya
    • What does this have to do with me?
    • What is Share International?
    • Who was Benjamin Creme?
    • Contact
  • About
  • Contact
  • English
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Nederlands