THE TEXTS OF ALICE A. BAILEY: AN INQUIRY INTO THE ROLE OF ESOTERICISM IN ...

332 Pages·2013·2.1 MB·English

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

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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
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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
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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

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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. After situating Bailey’s work within western
esotericism, I take three pathways into Bailey’s work.

First I apply a hermeneutic method to present my interpretation of Bailey’s esoteric
cosmology, construed as a mythic theory of everything, through which to explore
Bailey’s metaphors. I consider some metaphysical aspects of her work, followed by a
discussion of her cosmology as an alternative model of evolution.

Next I present a heuristic investigation of the more psychological aspects of Bailey’s
work in terms of how they impact upon my own sense of self, particularly in relation
to how the texts foster esoteric ways of knowing. The ensuing narrative spans three
chapters, each focusing on one aspect of Bailey’s developmental stage model of the
evolution of human consciousness along the spiritual path.

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To complete the research journey I return to a hermeneutic approach to Bailey’s texts,
taking a dialectic stance, and interpreting her work as a kind of revealed theology.
Bailey’s commitment to her metaphysical notions as literal truth and her application
of these notions to world affairs is critiqued with regard to some ideological
consequences of this way of treating esotericism.

I follow with some critical reflections upon Bailey’s work in relation to its potential
to transform consciousness, reorienting a reader towards spiritual living and human
betterment. After exploring aspects of her work considered apposite to transforming
consciousness, I speculate upon how Bailey’s texts might achieve her goal. In
essence, I find that any transformation that may occur through exposure to Bailey’s
texts results from a reader’s own efforts at penetrating to the heart of esoteric thought,
and not through the adoption or application of esotericism.

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