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'''Gautama Buddha''', the “Compassionate One,” holds the office of Lord of the World (referred to as “God of the Earth” in Rev. 11:4), hierarch of the [[etheric retreat]] at [[Shamballa]] (over the Gobi desert), where he sustains the [[threefold flame]] of | '''Gautama Buddha''', the “Compassionate One,” holds the office of [[Lord of the World]] (referred to as “God of the Earth” in Rev. 11:4), hierarch of the [[etheric retreat]] at [[Shamballa]] (over the Gobi desert), where he sustains the [[threefold flame]] of life for the evolutions of Earth. Gautama (who was embodied as Siddhartha Gautama c. 563 <small>B</small>.<small>C</small>.), is the great teacher of enlightenment through the soul’s mastery of the Ten Perfections, the [[Four Noble Truths]], and the [[Eightfold Path]], and sponsor of [[Summit University]] and of the mission of the [[Mother of the Flame]] to carry the torch of illumination for the age. | ||
Gautama came in an hour when Hinduism was at its worst state of decadence. The priesthood was involved in favoritism and guarding the great secrets, the real mysteries of God, from the people, thus keeping the masses in ignorance. The caste system had become a means of imprisonment of the soul instead of a means of liberation through dharma. Born as Prince Siddhartha, he left palace, power, wife and son to gain that enlightenment whereby he could give back to the people that which the interlopers had taken from them. | Gautama came in an hour when Hinduism was at its worst state of decadence. The priesthood was involved in favoritism and guarding the great secrets, the real mysteries of God, from the people, thus keeping the masses in ignorance. The caste system had become a means of imprisonment of the soul instead of a means of liberation through dharma. Born as Prince Siddhartha, he left palace, power, wife and son to gain that enlightenment whereby he could give back to the people that which the interlopers had taken from them. | ||
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One day Sujata, a villager’s daughter, fed him a rich rice milk—a “meal so wondrous ... that our Lord felt strength and life return as though the nights of watching and the days of fast had passed in dream.”<ref>Edwin Arnold, ''The Light of Asia'' (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1930), p. 96.</ref> And then he set out alone for the Bo tree (abbreviation for bodhi, or enlightenment) at a place now called Buddh Gaya, or Bodh Gaya, where he vowed to remain until fully illumined. Hence, it has become known as the Immovable Spot. | One day Sujata, a villager’s daughter, fed him a rich rice milk—a “meal so wondrous ... that our Lord felt strength and life return as though the nights of watching and the days of fast had passed in dream.”<ref>Edwin Arnold, ''The Light of Asia'' (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1930), p. 96.</ref> And then he set out alone for the Bo tree (abbreviation for bodhi, or enlightenment) at a place now called Buddh Gaya, or Bodh Gaya, where he vowed to remain until fully illumined. Hence, it has become known as the Immovable Spot. | ||
At that point, Mara, the Evil One, attempted to prevent his enlightenment and confronted him with temptations much in the same manner that Satan tested Jesus during his fasting in the wilderness. | At that point, Mara, the Evil One, attempted to prevent his enlightenment and confronted him with temptations much in the same manner that [[Satan]] tested [[Jesus]] during his fasting in the wilderness. | ||
The ''Dhammapada'' records the words of Mara, as she assailed Gautama: “Lean, suffering, ill-favored man, Live! Death is your neighbor. Death has a thousand hands, you have only two. Live! Live and do good, live holy, and taste reward. Why do you struggle? Hard is struggle, hard to struggle all the time.” | The ''Dhammapada'' records the words of Mara, as she assailed Gautama: “Lean, suffering, ill-favored man, Live! Death is your neighbor. Death has a thousand hands, you have only two. Live! Live and do good, live holy, and taste reward. Why do you struggle? Hard is struggle, hard to struggle all the time.” | ||
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Thus, he attained Enlightenment, or the Awakening, during the night of the full-moon day of the month of May, about the year 528 <small>B</small>.<small>C</small>. His being was transformed, and he became the Buddha. | Thus, he attained Enlightenment, or the Awakening, during the night of the full-moon day of the month of May, about the year 528 <small>B</small>.<small>C</small>. His being was transformed, and he became the Buddha. | ||
<blockquote>The event was of cosmic import. All created things filled the morning air with their rejoicings and the earth quaked six ways with wonder. Ten thousand galaxies shuddered in awe as lotuses bloomed on every tree, turning the entire universe into “a bouquet of flowers sent whirling through the | <blockquote>The event was of cosmic import. All created things filled the morning air with their rejoicings and the earth quaked six ways with wonder. Ten thousand galaxies shuddered in awe as lotuses bloomed on every tree, turning the entire universe into “a bouquet of flowers sent whirling through the air.”<ref>Huston Smith, The Religions of Man (New York: Harper & Row, Harper Colophon Books, 1958), p. 84.</ref></blockquote> | ||
For a total of forty-nine days he was deep in rapture, after which he again turned his attention to the world. He found Mara waiting for him with one last temptation: “How can your experience be translated into words? Return to Nirvana. Do not try to deliver your message to the world, for no one will comprehend it. Remain in bliss!” But Buddha replied: “There will be some who will understand,” and Mara vanished from his life forever. | For a total of forty-nine days he was deep in rapture, after which he again turned his attention to the world. He found Mara waiting for him with one last temptation: “How can your experience be translated into words? Return to Nirvana. Do not try to deliver your message to the world, for no one will comprehend it. Remain in bliss!” But Buddha replied: “There will be some who will understand,” and Mara vanished from his life forever. | ||
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== Teaching == | == Teaching == | ||
[[File:1200px-Dhamekh Stupa, where the Buddha gave the first sermon on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to his five disciples, Sarnath.jpg|thumb|Sarnath, India, the stupa marking the site where Gautama preached his first sermon]] | [[File:1200px-Dhamekh Stupa, where the Buddha gave the first sermon on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to his five disciples, Sarnath.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Sarnath, India, the stupa marking the site where Gautama preached his first sermon]] | ||
Contemplating whom he should first teach, he decided to return to the five ascetics who had left him. He began a journey of over one hundred miles to Benares and delivered to his old companions his first sermon, known as the ''Dhammacakkappavattana-sutta'', or “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Truth.” | Contemplating whom he should first teach, he decided to return to the five ascetics who had left him. He began a journey of over one hundred miles to Benares and delivered to his old companions his first sermon, known as the ''Dhammacakkappavattana-sutta'', or “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Truth.” | ||
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== Gautama’s work today == | == Gautama’s work today == | ||
Gautama Buddha was the first initiate to serve under Sanat Kumara, hence the one chosen to succeed him in the office of Lord of the World. On January 1, 1956, Sanat Kumara placed his mantle on Lord Gautama, whereupon the Chela par excellence of the Great Guru also became the hierarch of Shamballa. | Gautama Buddha was the first initiate to serve under [[Sanat Kumara]], hence the one chosen to succeed him in the office of Lord of the World. On January 1, 1956, Sanat Kumara placed his mantle on Lord Gautama, whereupon the Chela par excellence of the Great Guru also became the hierarch of Shamballa. | ||
Gautama Buddha today holds the office of Lord of the World (referred to as “God of the Earth” in Revelation 11:4). At inner levels, he sustains the threefold flame of life, the divine spark, for all children of God on earth. | Gautama Buddha today holds the office of Lord of the World (referred to as “God of the Earth” in Revelation 11:4). At inner levels, he sustains the threefold flame of life, the divine spark, for all children of God on earth. | ||
Speaking of the great service Lord Gautama renders to all life in his office as Lord of the World, Maitreya said on January 1, 1986: | Speaking of the great service Lord Gautama renders to all life in his office as Lord of the World, [[Maitreya]] said on January 1, 1986: | ||
<blockquote>The Lord of the World does sustain the threefold flame in the evolutions of earth by a filigree light extending from his heart. This, then, is the bypassing of the individual’s karma whereby there is so much blackness around the heart that the spiritual arteries or the crystal cord have been cut off.</blockquote> | <blockquote>The Lord of the World does sustain the threefold flame in the evolutions of earth by a filigree light extending from his heart. This, then, is the bypassing of the individual’s karma whereby there is so much blackness around the heart that the spiritual arteries or the crystal cord have been cut off.</blockquote> | ||
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Of this gift, Gautama himself said on December 31, 1983: | Of this gift, Gautama himself said on December 31, 1983: | ||
<blockquote>I am very observant. I observe you by the contact of my flame through the thread-contact I maintain to the threefold flame of your heart—sustaining it as I do until you pass from the [[seat-of-the-soul chakra]] to the very heart of hearts [[[ | <blockquote>I am very observant. I observe you by the contact of my flame through the thread-contact I maintain to the threefold flame of your heart—sustaining it as I do until you pass from the [[seat-of-the-soul chakra]] to the very heart of hearts [the [[secret chamber of the heart]]], and you yourself are able by attainment to sustain that flame and its burning in this octave.</blockquote> | ||
<blockquote>Did anyone here ever recall himself igniting his own threefold flame at birth? Has anyone here ever remembered tending its fire or keeping it burning? Beloved hearts, recognize that acts of love and valor and honor and selflessness surely contribute to this flame. But a higher power and a higher Source does keep that flame until you, yourself, are one with that higher power—your own [[Christ Self]].</blockquote> | <blockquote>Did anyone here ever recall himself igniting his own threefold flame at birth? Has anyone here ever remembered tending its fire or keeping it burning? Beloved hearts, recognize that acts of love and valor and honor and selflessness surely contribute to this flame. But a higher power and a higher Source does keep that flame until you, yourself, are one with that higher power—your own [[Christ Self]].</blockquote> | ||