All religions without exception have their roots in the Spiritual Hierarchy of the Great White Brotherhood (GWB), although some have strayed afar from the original teachings of their messengers and founders and the purposes of their establishment. Fortunately, in every religion there is an esoteric side perpetuated by the Initiates of the GWB. We will not discuss the Great White Brotherhood in detail here, those who are interested in acquiring more information may refer to the many metaphysical books on the subject. Suffice to say that the GWB is the "community of saints" mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. The members are non-sectarian and universal in their attitudes and beliefs. Collectively and individually, they have transcended dogmatic religions and their schisms, and have embraced the pristine teachings, principles, and laws of the Spirit, which is the source of pure Religion. Within the GWB is a Spiritual Hierarchy of Cosmic beings that represents the God-Government of our beloved planet operating at present in higher dimensions. The members currently holding offices in this hierarchy were the saints, prophets, sages, and avatars of the past. In one aspect, "heaven made manifest" is the application of cosmic laws governing the omniverse and upheld by the GWB, on the individual, social, national and international levels.

As alluded to above, every religion has an esoteric aspect where the Ancient Wisdom of the GWB is preserved for those who are spiritually awakened and prepared to receive higher revelations. Teachings of Deity cannot be confined or limited to a single book, tradition, or teacher. Revelation is a continuous process that meets the growing spiritual and psychological needs of humanity.

As the "prodigal son," humanity answers to God's call to return Home by initially being obedient to the unfolding spiritual "conscience," or the "still small voice" of the Spirit. Religions were established to foster this growth--not to enforce and educate a false conscience based on man-made interpretations of the Word of God, but to awaken within the soul that which is already inherent and supra-natural. This was recognized by Socrates who, with his unique system of inquiry, sought to awaken the souls of his listeners to "recollect" Truth.

Pure religious precepts direct men and women to free themselves from the creation of a sense of limitation and negativity in all expressions--in thought and behavior, for these hinders the voice of the Spirit from making its presence felt--and consequently, the delay of the spiritual evolution of the indwelling Soul.

Enforced religious dogmas programs in us a state of being where we no longer have any personal desire to commit theological "sin," of which consequence is the rise of a sense of morbid guilt and fear in their violation or non-obedience; this unnatural psychological condition prevents the Christ photonic-energies from penetrating the lower aspects of the microcosm. It is to the voice of the Spirit and the scripture of the Heart that one should pay heed, not to the confused interpretations of the minds of men.

"Behold, I (the Christ-force) stand at the door ("Sahasrara" chakra, or crown psychic-center), and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Rev:3:20)"

Essentially, the purpose of exoteric religion is to prepare us psychologically for the pursuit of the greater metaphysical mysteries where we are taught to transcend our mortal state of being in mind, body, and soul, and to acknowledge and identify ourselves with the Truth of our inner nature.

Purification is the first step in the Mystery Schools of the GWB, and essential religion is the portal leading toward the atrium of the GWB. Only when an individual is perfected in the embodiment of the cardinal virtues as taught by religion, will he be ready for the next phase of esotericism. Bypassing any step along the way only entails returning to the point of embarkation. People may claim to be illumined, to have witnessed Heaven in all its splendor, to have experienced the highest bliss, to know and socialize with the Ascended Masters, to have risen the kundalini and anchored the higher chakras into their physical form, or to have "seen" God; however, if the sense of duality and the sense of the false ego with its negative expressions still exist strongly within them, and their inner light shines but dully, all of their claims are false. They have entrapped themselves in a world of glamour and illusion and misinterpreted esoteric the mystical christ  . Students of spiritual paths may assert that their methodology takes them quickly to the mountain-top via the helicopter route; however, they often land on the holy mountain still with their feet shod, back loaded, and hands empty--with nothing to offer their Source but earthly garbage. Alternatively, while flying in their helicopter, they sometimes do not land at all, preferring to enjoy the ride and view. This is unfortunate--as they end up in a cloud of spiritual smugness.

Esotericism is the "meat" of the Spirit in contrast to the "milk" of exoteric religious precepts meant for infants aspiring to the spiritual path. In Islam, the heavier nourishment symbolised by meat is referred to as "Hakikat" and "Marifat" or in Christianity as "Gnosis." Judaism knows it as the "Kaballah" while in Hinduism it is the "Gupta Vidya." "Vajrayana" and its teachings is the Buddhist equivalent to the esoteric side of the Semitic religions.

Christianity, like so many other traditions, was influenced by various foreign elements--not only Judaism, and Buddhism, but also by the various Mystery Schools existing in the several centuries prior to and after its establishment. One of these Mystery Schools were the Essenes, a mystical Order of some prominence and existing in the region of the Holy Land when the Piscean Master walked the earth. They are unrecorded in the gospel stories except for the few references regarding their members--the men in white robes who were mistaken and interpreted to be angels. The Essenes were a semi-monastic Order that was formed for the purpose of preparing the conditions necessary for the incarnation of the Christ Spirit macrocosmically and microcosmically. The parents of Jesus were members of the Essenes as were the parents of John the Baptist. Naturally, the future avatar and his way-shower were raised under the tutelage of the Essene Brotherhood in preparation for their holy missions. According to esoteric tradition, while in his teens and early manhood, Jesus traveled to Egypt, India, Tibet, Persia, and Greece to study in the Mystery Schools. This was Jesus' so-called "lost-years"--18 long years that the canonical scriptures enshroud in mystery and are mute.