Discourses

Recent Articles

  • Death, Grief, and Letting Go
    When our loved ones leave the physical plane, we often want to know if they have gone on to another plane of existence or what, if anything, happens after death. Some people sense or feel the presence of that loved one nearby after they have departed. Often in the mourning of this loss, we are … Continue reading Death, Grief, and Letting Go →
  • The Nature of the Scorpion
    There is an old story, told in many traditions and in many forms, about a tortoise and a scorpion. A tortoise was preparing to cross a river when a scorpion came to the water’s edge and asked, “Will you carry me to the other side?” The tortoise refused. “You are a scorpion. If I carry … Continue reading The Nature of the Scorpion →
  • The Hands of Divine Providence
    In everyday language, providence has come to mean a guiding force that looks after our welfare. The word providence comes from the Latin providere, to see ahead, to foresee and provide for what is needed before the need arises. Within the Universal Understanding of the God Consciousness, Divine Providence carries that same root meaning, but … Continue reading The Hands of Divine Providence →
  • God and the God Consciousness
    For as long as humanity has existed, people searching for the purpose behind their existence have sensed a power greater than themselves. In ancient times, that power wore many faces: the God of Wind, the God of Fire, the God of Rain, the God of Earth, each force of nature carrying its own divine name. … Continue reading God and the God Consciousness →
  • The Order Beneath All Things
    At times, life can feel very chaotic and random. Challenges may seem to arise without explanation, and circumstances can appear unpredictable or even unfair. Yet what appears chaotic is often an order we do not yet understand. It is our lack of understanding of the causes and principles at work that prevents us from seeing … Continue reading The Order Beneath All Things →
  • Eros and Agapé
    The English language uses the single word “love” to describe a wide range of human experiences. We say we love our spouse, our children, and even our favorite meal or hobby. Yet these experiences are clearly not the same. The passionate love we feel for a partner differs from the love of a parent for … Continue reading Eros and Agapé →
  • Breaking the Cycle
    Life is a series of cycles. Each cycle creates a link in a chain that has no beginning and no end. We are always moving from one cycle into the next. Some cycles are growthful and productive, and these cycles serve us well. We can then move on to the next aspect of our spiritual … Continue reading Breaking the Cycle →
  • The Rules of the Agasha Temple of Wisdom
    Every spiritual philosophy must eventually answer a practical question: how does one live these teachings? The Agasha Temple of Wisdom offers five rules as the answer to that question. They are not commandments nor are they standards by which we measure or judge one another. They are conscious statements of intention, a guide for the … Continue reading The Rules of the Agasha Temple of Wisdom →
  • The Affirmation of the Agasha Temple of Wisdom
    What Is an Affirmation? An affirmation, in a spiritual context, is a deliberate statement of truth used to align the mind with a greater reality. It is more than just positive thinking; it is a conscious declaration that helps redirect the mortal consciousness toward the deeper awareness of who we truly are. When we understand … Continue reading The Affirmation of the Agasha Temple of Wisdom →
  • That Which Is and That Which Is Not
    “That which is, is ever present. That which is not is created within the present moment because of a misunderstanding of the is.” – Master Iefkomtar This simple yet profound statement points us toward the eternal reality of God and the soul. When Master Iefkomtar says, “That which is, is ever present,” he is pointing … Continue reading That Which Is and That Which Is Not →
  • The Mind of the Soul: The Power of Creation
    This discourse continues from the first part, The Mind of the Soul: The Nature of the Mind, where we explored the foundation of the mind and its role in guiding the soul. Having established that understanding, we now turn to how the mind of the soul expresses its creative power and how that power unfolds … Continue reading The Mind of the Soul: The Power of Creation →
  • The Mind of the Soul: The Nature of the Mind
    This subject proved too abstract to take in all at once, so the discourse has been divided into two parts. The second part, on the power of creation, follows. In the Universal Understanding of the God Consciousness, we often use the term “the mind of the soul.” But what does that truly mean? In The … Continue reading The Mind of the Soul: The Nature of the Mind →
  • Desiderata
    The following poem expresses, in simple and eloquent language, many of the core principles found within the Universal Understanding of the God Consciousness. The very title, Desiderata, meaning “things that are desired,” reflects qualities that one seeks to embody in their spiritual quest. It speaks of the balance between the inner and outer self, of … Continue reading Desiderata →
  • The Core of Life
    For all practical purposes, the Core of Life is the beginning of all beginnings. It is the consciousness from which all life came forth. While there have likely been cycles of development prior to the Core of Life, they are not known to us. It should be understood that life has been, is, and always … Continue reading The Core of Life →
  • Reincarnation and the Wheel of Life
    When we look honestly at the world around us, one thing becomes immediately apparent: human beings do not enter existence on equal footing, nor do they express the same capacities of awareness, ability, or morality. The range is vast, and it raises an important question about the deeper causes behind these differences. For centuries, spiritual … Continue reading Reincarnation and the Wheel of Life →
  • I Desired a Purpose
    by Master Anthropis In this teaching, Master Anthropis speaks to one of the most enduring questions of the spiritual journey.  “I desired a purpose one day, and I sat in a quiet reverie of a darkened space in the shadowed valleys of my own mind and sent out a call for that purpose to come.  … Continue reading I Desired a Purpose →
  • Discovering the Soul
    Although we are aware we possess consciousness, we are far less certain about its source or the power behind it. Are we merely electrochemical organisms, with consciousness arising as an emergent property of biological processes? Is awareness nothing more than a complex interaction of neurons and chemistry? Or is consciousness something more, something not reducible … Continue reading Discovering the Soul →
  • From Perception to Discernment
    Often, much of what we do and say happens without reflection, without inner honesty, and without real understanding of what is taking place within ourselves. It feels like we live in a world of casual carelessness.  If we have not developed a strong sense of self-awareness, reactions and judgments are often knee-jerk rather than thoughtful. … Continue reading From Perception to Discernment →
  • Karma and the Call to Compassion
    In the article The Law of Karma, we explored how individuals shape their own experiences through both the Law of Cause and Effect and the Law of Karma.  Individuals call karmas, or opportunities to demonstrate growth, to themselves, but they are not necessarily meant to be experienced alone.  Additionally, karma is not an excuse to … Continue reading Karma and the Call to Compassion →
  • The Willow and the Oak
    It was once said that a person has a choice: to be like the oak or to be like the willow. The oak stands firm and refuses to bend, but the willow endures; for while a strong wind can uproot the oak, it rarely has the strength to topple the willow. Flexibility allows us to … Continue reading The Willow and the Oak →
  • The Law of Karma
    Many people have a simplified view of karma, often reducing it to the familiar idea “what goes around comes around.” While that captures a small part of the principle, it misses the depth and nuance behind the true Law of Karma. Karma is not a cosmic scoreboard, nor is it the spiritual version of retaliation, … Continue reading The Law of Karma →
  • I the One the Many Make
    The poem Mastery was first published by Earl G. Barr in Los Angeles, California, in 1928, in a small hardbound volume of just 26 pages. The book itself was titled Mastery, taking its name from the poem that stands as the centerpiece of the collection. The author is identified only as Retsama, a pseudonym that … Continue reading I the One the Many Make →
  • The Process of Individualization
    In the discourse, The Dual Nature of the Human Condition, we discussed the dual nature of humanity, the qualities of the soul consciousness versus the mortal consciousness, and why it is important to surrender to the soul consciousness. In this discourse, we will explore the greater purpose of life: the role and responsibility of the … Continue reading The Process of Individualization →
  • The Nature of Knowledge
    If you were given a box and that box contained all the knowledge ever known, what would you do with it? Some of you would open it eagerly and partake of all that it held. Imagine, for a moment, that this knowledge came in the form of a cake. Many would sit down and consume … Continue reading The Nature of Knowledge →
  • The Dual Nature of the Human Condition
    In the Universal Understanding of the God Consciousness, one of the most vital truths we must understand is that humanity exists in duality. Within each of us are two consciousnesses:  The interior self, the soul, the God Consciousness within, the eternal aspect of our being;  and the exterior self, the mortal consciousness tied to the … Continue reading The Dual Nature of the Human Condition →
  • Awakening
    “The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.” — Rumi, The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks. In spiritual traditions, the idea of “awakening” often sounds lofty or esoteric.  In truth, it is more like a breeze at dawn. It is the quiet moment when one begins to hear … Continue reading Awakening →
  • There With the Grace of God Go I
    The familiar phrase, “There but for the grace of God go I,” is often spoken when we witness hardship in others and feel spared by divine intervention. It implies separation: I am fortunate, and by the grace of God I have avoided that fate. While this recognition can inspire humility, it can also reinforce a … Continue reading There With the Grace of God Go I →
  • The Tree That Bears Fruit
    In this teaching, Master Anthropis follows a tree’s journey, reflecting the cyclical nature of our spiritual growth, from seeking the light to becoming a beacon of light: I plant myself within the soil of knowledge,and my roots sprout first.I grow towards the light. My roots stretch out to expand and gather together that knowledge,in order … Continue reading The Tree That Bears Fruit →
  • On Wisdom and Humility
    Life is the experience of knowledge. Wisdom is the practice of discernment and the mindful application of that knowledge to the circumstances we encounter. The expression of wisdom unfolds the consciousness of the soul and manifests as light. But just as the light of a single candle can brighten a dark room, wisdom can only … Continue reading On Wisdom and Humility →
  • Living the Golden Rule: The Essence of Spirituality
    At the heart of being a spiritual person is the Golden Rule:  “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  In other words, treat others as you would like others to treat you. This principle crosses cultural and religious lines, providing a universal path to a kinder and more understanding way of … Continue reading Living the Golden Rule: The Essence of Spirituality →
  • Journey Inward: A Practical Guide to Meditation
    Meditation is regularly practiced by people from every walk of life. Cancer patients, business executives, and spiritual seekers alike have turned to it, some to reduce stress, others to deepen self-awareness or to draw nearer to a sense of the divine. Meditation is, at its essence, an exercise in expanding awareness. At its core, it … Continue reading Journey Inward: A Practical Guide to Meditation →
  • Be Mindful
    Our experiences of today are the result of the choices we made yesterday, and the choices we make today will shape our tomorrow. Each of us is the master of our own destiny, and our choices determine how we get there. Consequently, our choices must be made with a great deal of discernment. Discernment is … Continue reading Be Mindful →
  • An Introduction
    The Agasha Temple of Wisdom is devoted to the clarification, illumination, and dissemination of the Universal Understanding of the God Consciousness.  This is a spiritual philosophy emphasizing self-awareness, mindful decision-making, and accountability in the shaping of one’s destiny. The very core of this philosophy is agapé, unconditional love and acceptance of all others as well … Continue reading An Introduction →