The online edition of Share International magazine presents a selection of items from the printed edition. Each online edition includes a complete article by Benjamin Creme's Master. Most other articles reproduced here, covering a wide range of topics, are excerpts. The online edition usually also includes a selection of Questions and Answers, Readers' letters, and photographs of Signs of Maitreya's presence.
See the full table of contents of the printed edition at the foot of the page.
From the inception of Share International magazine, Benjamin Creme’s Master provided an article every month for nearly 35 years. These were intended to be published not only at the time they were written, but also whenever appropriate according to world circumstances.
Many are the ways in which humanity is advancing, knowingly or not. From Our viewpoint, these forward steps are clearly to be seen. Notwithstanding the present chaos and crisis, the amelioration of the worst conditions of human life, in many places, goes on apace. It is true that there are areas of the deepest deprivation and neglect; that millions still starve and die without cause or need; that half the world cries out for justice while the others bask in the sunshine of their complacency and ignorance. Nevertheless, real and far-reaching changes are taking place and augur well for the future. This gives Us hope that humanity’s response to Maitreya will be eager and swift.
When Maitreya appears before the world He will outline the programme for its renewal. He will show that the present methods of coping with our many problems are deeply flawed, relying as they do on rivalry and self interest; that the present tensions and dangers are a direct result of the imbalances created by complacency and greed; that by co-operation alone will the problems of the world be solved, the poor and starving fed, the health of the planet secured, war a forgotten nightmare of the past.
The peoples will listen and debate and take their stand: for the creation of a new and better way of living based on accepted brotherhood and sharing, or a descent into further degradation and violence and final self-destruction. Humanity must make its choice. Men and women everywhere should understand that this is a choice for life, unimaginable in its newness and grandeur, or ignominious death by their own hand. Better by far it is to face boldly the future and build together the new, than to creep, defeated, to the abyss.
How will you choose, then, reader? How will you cast your life? Will you stand with Maitreya and His call for justice and freedom? For a world remade by sharing and love? Will you come to know your divinity and that of your brothers? Your path to the stars a reality before you? Will this decision, your soul’s choice, fill you with gladness? And take you to the Source of Love Itself?
Maitreya knows already those on whom He can depend. He knows that the hearts of men are sound and strong, on them He can rely. He knows that His army is ready for the good fight for the Common Good. That the men and women of Goodwill everywhere are sensing His presence and responding to the world’s need.
He has no fear that the men and women of today will miss their destined opportunity to cast their vote and their choice for the General Good. Fearless, they are ready for the future and longing to serve.
(Share International, April 2002)
These articles are by a senior member of the Hierarchy of Masters of Wisdom. His name, well-known in esoteric circles, is not yet being revealed. Benjamin Creme, a principal spokesman about the emergence of Maitreya, was in constant telepathic contact with this Master who dictated his articles to him.
At every lecture he gave around the world, and virtually every day of his life, Benjamin Creme was asked numerous questions covering a vast range of topics. We draw on this recorded resource and present here a selection of answers provided over the years by Mr Creme and his Master.
A note from our archives
Dear Share International
The message of Share International is, as every decent-minded person would agree, irreproachable. I am not a believer in Christ’s presence in the world, but I should be more inclined to believe if your Christ would come out boldly and say what is the only way to bring about a better world: that is, to get rid of this hideous arms race. If we and other nations stopped the manufacture of nuclear weapons, the poverty of the Third World could be cured overnight. I am astonished that if the Christ is a reality he does not proclaim loud and clear that this is the greatest evil that this world has ever seen. If this were contained in one of your messages I might feel a little less sceptical. What matters most in the world today is to abolish these weapons of mass destruction, which are grossly immoral, hideously expensive and terrifyingly dangerous.
Yours sincerely
We present here phenomena which, to the editors, are "signs of hope" and "signs of the time". Fortunately, our current stock of phenomena confirmed as real and genuine by Benjamin Creme's Master is fairly large. However, in future we will also present material which has not been confirmed by BC's Master. We undertake to be as thorough as possible in our investigation of each 'miracle' or 'sign' and will present them for your consideration only, since we cannot now make use of the confirmation and additional information which in the past was always provided by BC's Master. Further details, when available, are given in the captions to the photographs.
On 5 March 2023, a priest at the St Thomas Catholic Church in the town of Thomaston, Connecticut, announced to the congregation that a miracle had just taken place there. One of the church’s Eucharistic ministers, who was distributing the bread wafers (hosts) for communion, noticed that they were running out of hosts, and looked around to see if he could replenish them. However, when he looked again at the ciborium, which holds the wafers, he saw that they had multiplied on their own. When the priest, Father Crowley, later checked the container after communion, there appeared to be even more hosts than he had originally given to the Eucharistic minister. This phenomenon, known as a Eucharistic miracle in the Catholic tradition, is being investigated by the local Catholic archdiocese. A nearby resident of the church, Nestor Escalante, said: “It gives people hope.”
Benjamin Creme noted that “every time the Eucharist is taken, it is charged by the Master Jesus or, if the officiant is evolved enough, by Maitreya Himself.” (Share International, June 2014) (Source: coasttocoastam.com; YouTube: wsfb 3)
While I was walking along Victoria Road in Glasgow, I came across this photograph which had been thrown away. On it there appears to be a light blessing manifested by Maitreya. Could Mr Creme’s Master confirm or otherwise?
T.R., Glasgow, UK
We present a selection of quotations on the theme of the role of the media in Maitreya´s emergence. The quotations are taken from … Benjamin Creme’s Master (A Master Speaks Volumes One and Two) and Benjamin Creme’s writings.
A. Where less emphasis is given to education and the upholding of the democratic principle, the ability of a government to manipulate the population is increased. Manipulation through a controlled media is, of course, one of the most dangerous (and effective) means used by governments today. (Benjamin Creme, The Gathering of the Forces of Light)
A. (1) Yes, the media have a very responsible role to play in education. Maitreya will most certainly use the media to teach the people. (2) To use it, yes; to change it, no, that is our responsibility. (Benjamin Creme, Maitreya’s Mission Volume Two)
For many years men have awaited, impatiently to be sure, evidence that Maitreya does in truth exist, and carries out His work among us. Why this doubt should for so long persist is, perhaps, difficult to understand, given the vast transformations of our world which have clearly taken place, each one foretold by Maitreya, and made available to the public and world media. What prevents the acceptance — even as a hypothesis — that such a welcome event has indeed transpired?
The media of the world know every facet of this information, however little they inform the public of its nature. Many of its representatives have met Maitreya, have heard Him speak, and yet stay silent themselves.
Why should this be so? What inhibits the public announcement of this welcome news? In the main the problem is fear: fear of ridicule, fear of disbelief; fear of loss, of their status or jobs; fear that they are somehow beguiled, that they did not see what they saw or hear what they heard. It is easier to set their experiences aside and to leave it to Maitreya Himself — if He does indeed exist — to come forward and show the world His factual Presence.
This view, logical enough to those who thus wait silently, shows little understanding of the Laws which govern the appearance of a Teacher of Maitreya’s stature.
Many worthy Teachers come into our lives, do their work, and cause few ripples on the surface of men’s thought and action. They seldom need forerunners to prepare their way. Maitreya, however, is the World Teacher, Head of Hierarchy, and intends to serve as such for the next world cycle. His impact on humanity cannot be comprehended. His coming is a truly momentous happening, which must be prepared for beforehand, and adequately explained to men of every station.
The world’s media are ideally placed to acquaint men with the true happenings of our time. They are looked to for information, and often guidance, by millions of people thirsty for the truth, for knowledge and hope. It behoves the men and women of the media, men and women of goodwill, to acquaint themselves with this information, where necessary, and to serve the public by its serious introduction. Then will they see Maitreya openly, ready to show us all how to set to rights the world.
(Share International, January/February 2008)
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, and is tasked with addressing the causes of world hunger while feeding those who are precariously close to starvation. Its outgoing Executive Director, David Beasley, gave a wide-ranging interview to Sarah Montague, 31 March 2023 on BBC’s HARDtalk. In it, he repeatedly stressed that the situation is rapidly running out of control, saying: “We are going backwards”. Solutions will only work where there is goodwill and united effort.
The ‘shocks’ keep coming
When Beasley took on the role six years ago, there were 80 million people in extreme hunger, but he was confident that WFP could be “put out of business”. However, he explained, war and climate shocks took that figure to 135 million before Covid; then Covid took it to 276 million. Supply chain disruption and debt accelerated; then the Ukraine war brought food and fuel pricing inflation, and further devaluation of currencies. So there are now 350 million people “that literally do not know where their next meal is coming from, marching towards starvation, and it breaks my heart”.
Putting this in context, Beasley added that 200 years ago, there were just 1.1 billion people on the planet; of these, about 95 per cent were in poverty or extreme poverty. “We’ve reduced that to less than 10 per cent! But now, we’re going backwards for the first time in hundreds of years!” Nevertheless, he still believes it possible to end world hunger: “If we end the wars, there’s no question. Even with climate shocks, we can do it. But we’ve got to end the wars. And we’ve got to change our approach long-term with regards to how we address extreme hunger in many of the troubled countries in the world.” …
Just feeding people is not enough
Asked what WFP Director for climate change, Gerno Laganda meant by: “Climate change is pushing the aid system beyond the point where it can deal with the runaway train”, Beasley said that two years ago 30 million people were displaced by climate change alone and, from what WFP are seeing, that is only going to get worse. There has to be another answer. “Charity is not the long-term solution.” If only food is provided, “you will be doing it for the next thousand years”. But resilience programmes: providing water wells, rehabilitating the land, creating canals, reduce the need for aid dramatically. …
And the billionaire philanthropists?
He points to the increase in net-worth wealth for the average billionaire during Covid: “Five billion dollars a day! Incredible! Incredible!” But, rather than ask them to resolve all these issues through their wealth “while we have a short-term phenomenon. I want them to engage in the game, with all their technology, all their expertise, intelligence… Engage with us. Let’s end hunger around the world. Nothing’s more important than ending hunger for people around the world at a time like this. …
Responding to the varied but critical water challenges around the world — too much, too little, too polluted — the United Nations convened the first Water Conference in nearly half a century at its New York headquarters in March 2023. Beginning on World Water Day, 22 March, the three-day conference was designed to accelerate progress toward universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2030. This aim is identical to the UN’s internationally-agreed Sustainable Development Goal 6, and it was hoped that the conference would lead to a burst of action toward achieving that goal.
Although clean water is essential for human life, statistics indicate that we’re facing a global water crisis. A quarter of the world’s population lacks access to clean drinking water, and over 800,000 people die every year from diseases directly related to unsafe water or inadequate sanitation. Moreover, the impacts of climate change are exacerbating water problems everywhere. The World Meteorological Organization reports a 134 percent increase in floods since 2000 and a 29 per cent increase in drought duration.
As António Guterres, UN Secretary General, summarized it: “We are draining humanity’s lifeblood through vampiric overconsumption and unsustainable use, and evaporating it through global heating.” He called on governments to develop and implement plans to ensure all people have equitable water access while conserving this precious resource. …
The Conference ended in broad agreement that water should be treated as a global common good, inseparable from the climate crisis, food, energy and national security. A new UN envoy for water was created, along with plans for a new UN scientific panel on water; and almost 700 voluntary commitments to a new Water Action Agenda were made by local and national governments, nonprofits, and some businesses. …
Meanwhile, the UN’s latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report presented its direst warning yet for humanity to quickly move away from fossil fuels or else suffer more intense heat waves, droughts, floods and other disasters. Key takeaways include a new focus on equity and justice — protecting the most vulnerable people — and the acknowledgement that water-related risks are growing and will accelerate with each degree of warming. An urgent call for action is the bottom line, emphasizing that every fraction of a degree of warming we can prevent matters, that we can prevent the worst climate effects by swiftly cutting emissions; and that nature can be tapped for solutions. …
May 2023
Full contents of the printed edition
- The Master —: Humanity´s choice
- The gift of Joy of service
- Jeffrey D. Sachs: The need for a new US foreign policy
- Thom Hartmann: Are we at peak commodification of humanity?
- Pauline Welch: Charity alone will not fix this crisis
- Cher Gilmore: The UN leads on global water and climate
- Signs of the time: Miracle in Connecticut Catholic Church
- Aart Jurriaanse: The Buddha
- The coming of Maitreya foretold by the Buddha “The dates are approaching. The Image of Maitreya is ready to rise.”
- Jessica Corbett: ‘Incredibly disturbing’ documents reveal oil giant Shell knew about climate impacts even earlier
- Compilation: The role of the media in Maitreya’s emergence
- Creating a world where generosity can flow
- Letters to the editor
- Benjamin Creme: Questions and answers
Benjamin Creme’s comment
You are absolutely right. Weapons are immoral, expensive and dangerous. There is no doubt that Maitreya would concur with this opinion. But there is an obvious difference in how we believe the insane arms race could be stopped. The weapons themselves, however costly, dangerous and immoral they may be, are not the cause of the problem but the result. They are the result of the fact that humanity is dangerously divided and trapped in crystallised structures and has given itself over to the illusory security of materialism. Calling on the great power blocs to halt the arms race will have little or no effect as long as each party so profoundly distrusts the other’s goodwill.
Hence Maitreya’s recommendation that we seek out the root of the problem: He advocates the implementation of the principle of sharing because, in this way, presently warring and hostile nations could achieve a total change of outlook. Political differences on which the need for armaments are built are dependent to a large extent on economic factors. The core of the economic problems is one of distribution and redistribution. By the acceptance of the principle of sharing these economic differences would be resolved. In that new situation the motivation for making an end to armaments and war would be achieved. In our view, the division between rich and poor poses just as great a threat to the stability of the world as does the nuclear arms race. We are not alone in this view: it is central to that expressed in the Brandt Commission Report. However well-intentioned, those who advocate simple disarmament without the acceptance of sharing are, we believe, putting the cart before the horse, and are doomed to disappointment.
There is also a second reason for stressing that the principle of sharing is more fundamental than a one-sided attack on the evils of nuclear arms: any individual may begin to apply the idea of sharing in his own environment, with whatever limited means at his disposal and so, gradually, contribute towards immediate social change. On the other hand, resolutions to halt the arms race can only be taken — in democracies — when more than half the population gives its support to the idea; while in countries under dictatorial regimes much more than that would be necessary to bring about any change in arms policy, and for such changes we have already been waiting for decades. Sharing is, therefore, a much more direct and more effective instrument with which to achieve the goal which we, together with you, wish to see fulfilled: a world free of hunger and poverty in which there is no room for weapons.
(Share International, October 1982)