Umpqua National Forest, Oregon, USA-Pacific Standard Time Zone
~~* Pilgrimage to the Golden City-Page 6 *~~
~~*Back to the Mountains*~~
Mind numbed, I left the Summit Lighthouse and left the few
possessions I had accumulated behind. In a short while I was once again back in
the wild regions of the Colorado Rocky Mountains contemplating the years
that had gone by and the profound involvement with the mystery schools and world
religions that had engulfed my life in so few years. The synthesis of
religions and mysterious disciplines and spiritual exercises I had accumulated
now made up the bulk of my mind. With the mere exertion of will I was able to
enter trance like states of various kinds and to freely negotiate various fields
of consciousness.
~~*Greater Spiritual Dynamics*~~
Somehow, leaving the confines of the Monastery (which at
first was a devastating and seemingly life-threatening decision) now became a
catalyst for greater spiritual dynamics to unfold.
It is hard to explain the explosion of psycho-spiritual
expansion and versatility that dawned on me in those mountains in just a matter
of days. I went from very low ebb to a veritable tidal wave of renewed hope and
optimism that even to this day staggers my memories. Why were such radical
changes sweeping over my life? Hadn't I just failed the spiritual hierarchy
determined to liberate the earth's people? My reasoning centered on a
persuasion that as long as there was life there was hope.
From there I scaled the mountain of my disorientation by
leaps and bounds. I went through a process of psychic morphology that settled me into what I
considered to be reconciliation with the "beings" who were setting the
world free. From thence it was a simple step of evolution to explain my newfound
freedom as the actual will of the Masters. They wanted me out of there! That
was it! It was a part of my path to leave. But what was next?
~~*Destiny Unfolding*~~
It didn't seem long at all before a sense of equilibrium
and peace of mind began to settle in. Even with the exertion of some rudimentary
discipline from Summit Lighthouse headquarters, I intuitively sensed destiny
unfolding before me. The years I had spent on the Church Universal and
Triumphant (CUT) staff were riddled with experiences that confirmed my
"path" but that also challenged my sense of direction and values. The crass
materialism and accumulation of wealth, some of the peculiar behavior patterns of the Messengers and a deep
sense of want in my own heart all served to compel me to remain outside
the confines of the organization after my departure.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Prophet informed me that the Masters were
requiring of me a period away from the Organization anyway. She interpreted this as harsh
discipline and I was seeing it in an entirely different light. My
psycho-spiritual adeptness had not diminished at all. In fact it blossomed
unlike ever before.
~~*Walking in Spiritual Realms *~~
The entire time I had spent with CUT centered on the
development and use of spiritual faculties, but especially clairvoyance. The
Messengers had taken me around the world with them because this skill and others
were so fine-tuned. Now, like a flower unfolding, these abilities expanded to
incredible proportions.
I walked in a realm that I thought allowed me to discern the future.
An innate intuitive knowledge now eclipsed the systems of divination that I used
early on. It was also very easy to probe the thoughts of others. I had devoted
myself to an intense study of astrology, natural medicine, and the development
of a system of religious synthesis while in the Monastery. These attributes
later served to open doors of opportunity to "serve" people and
fulfill my obligations to the Masters.
The idealism that propelled me onto the spiritual path was
taken to new heights. The tremendous outgrowth and influence of the world's
religions and the incredible thread of unity that appeared to be binding them
together as a great orchestration of spiritual activity on every level of
consciousness propelled me on. Form, color, sound, earth, air, fire, water - from
the rudimentary to the most complex elements of spirit, soul and matter - all of
these were part of some grand scheme to cause every human being to awaken to
some fantastic destiny - a destiny centered upon a divine reality that all were
free to discover.
The mind of the mystic and his preoccupation with certain
"truths" that were the core of mystical initiation, indeed the keys of
hidden spiritual doors, had for some reason been granted to me. I wandered deep
into the recesses of abstract realms of spiritual activity and its vague
definitions and explanations of the human (some say, divine) condition.
Led along by spirits whose calling was to win the human race and manifest the
Divine will, I recaptured the discipline of mind and heart needed to remain on
the path. I was young and I loved rainbows. I went on.
~~*The MacKays*~~
Maintaining a tenuous connection with The Summit, I met a very fair
young lady named Linda MacKay at one of the meetings. Linda had an inquiring
mind and a keen interest in spiritual things. It wasn't long before I met the
entire MacKay family and developed a deep relationship with them. The MacKays
were very much like most of the upper middle class of that era. Mr. MacKay was a
successful businessman in the energy industry. Mrs. MacKay was an amiable lady
with a wide range of interests. The teenage children were into the new culture
and running loose with the morals and ways of the sixties and seventies,
including a lot of pot smoking.
Suddenly a barefooted, white robed mystic showed up in
their lives. I stayed at their house in a room that they graciously provided.
Being a renunciate, my only possessions were the clothes on my back. I soon
settled into a routine of meditation and chanting. I had frequent conversations
with Linda and Joyce, her mother, on philosophy and the mystery religions.
Mrs. MacKay, seeing my meager holdings and sincerity, was
compelled one particular day to give me one thousand dollars. She said God had
instructed her to give me the sum. Fully persuaded that material possessions
were a hindrance to my path, I refused her gracious offer. She insisted that the
cashier's check made out to my name would remain intact for my use at any
time. I was in a quandary as to her insistence that God had moved her to act in
this fashion.
~~*Led by My Spirit Guide*~~
Not long after this incident, on the occasion of a late night
discussion of the many mystery schools and traditions that have filled human
history, the conversation began winding down and the room in which we sat filled
with a brilliant blue light. In the center of the room a large luminous blue
sphere appeared out of which a voice spoke. We sat entranced as a command was
given to me, "COME AND FIND ME."
I was immediately forced into an altered state of
consciousness and had a vision of the far reaches of the Himalayan mountains.
Quickly I merged with the spirit speaking to me and was informed that my next
guru was to be found.
Now it seemed that the cashier's check made sense. Looking
back I marvel at the profound power that orchestrated the events of that time.
The government of India was shutting its doors to all but the most capable
visitors from the US. In the late sixties there was a tremendous influx of
seekers from the US who upon reaching India were unable to care for themselves,
some even unable to return to the US. Every effort was made to thoroughly screen
individuals entering the country. I can remember showing up at the travel agency
dressed in traditional yogic garb. Against all odds I had my visa and papers in
order within two weeks. Off I went to New Delhi, India, led by my spirit guide.
It was late summer when I arrived. Having been there before
didn't prepare me for the onset of a severe fever shortly after I reached the
sub-continent. Undaunted, I made my way to Vrindivan. Vrindavan is a
small village that was the birthplace of Krishna, one of India's best-known
gods. I circumambulated the village three times and sought refuge at a Krishna
ashram. I waited out my fever and mused over the many aspects of Vedic
knowledge. After adjusting somewhat to the new conditions, I headed for
Rishikesh, a mecca for yogis, mendicants, and devotees of the myriads of Hindu,
Buddhist and religious sects at the headwaters of the Ghanges River. Many
ashrams and monasteries from ancient times have been established there. Still
very much engrossed in my trance like meditations, I waited for specific
inspiration as to my next step.
Individuals and circumstances attended the entire journey up
to that point, with strange confirmations of my direction. Soon I was on my way
to Katmandu, located in a beautiful mountain valley at the Himalayan foothills
of Nepal. A small "undeveloped" country for the most part in those days, the main
method of transportation in the land was walking on ancient, well-worn pathways.
Nepalese Everest Trek Visa
~~*The Everest Trek*~~
My papers in order, I began what was called the Everest
Trek. Between Katmandu and a small town named Bhadgoan in the same valley,
there was a paved road for the stretch of about three miles. It was the only
paved road I was aware of in the entire country at the time and a private bus serviced
it.
The Nepalese people were short in stature for the most part.
When I entered the packed, ornately decorated bus, I stood head and shoulders
above the indigenous people. Most of the Nepalese men wore little black tight fitting hats
and black vests. They almost appeared to be in a cultural uniform of sorts. In
the back of the bus stood a man in the traditional garb, but uniquely
different in that he had blue eyes and stood taller than the rest.
He wrestled his way forward of the bus through the crowd and
introduced himself with a strong Australian accent. He expressed curiosity as to
why I was in Nepal. No doubt he had seen many people from Europe and the US on
spiritual pilgrimages to these lofty mountains. I told him how explicitly I was
led to this land and to these mountains to search out my next spiritual teacher.
He assured me that he was well aware of who I was looking for. Curious, I asked
who that might be. His reply was Jesus Christ.
Being made aware of the fact that he was a missionary from
Australia, I assumed his understanding of who Jesus was was very different from
mine. Our conversation was pleasant but short-lived as this paved road's short journey.
Himalayan Mani Stones
Bhadgoan was at the feet of the first range of mountains that make up the Himalayan ranges. Each range of mountains gets progressively higher, the third range being known as the ever snows.