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Maitreya's effect on education
Perhaps the fundamental tenet of the Ageless Wisdom teachings is that the purpose of life is the evolution of consciousness. While various philosophical and religious versions of this tenet have been debated for centuries, Maitreya's emergence will lay the controversy to rest. Our observation of Maitreya's capabilities, and our experience of our inner nature, can be expected to trigger a widespread demand for systems of education that will enable sustained spiritual growth. At that point the challenge before educators will be twofold: first to develop their own understanding of the truths which Maitreya has demonstrated, and second to develop the means of passing the reality of those truths on to the next generation. What are the fundamental ideas relevant to education which Maitreya will embody? After the Day of Declaration it should be perfectly clear that there is meaning and purpose to existence; not meaning created by humanity, but meaning inherent in life itself. To reverse Sartre's famous quotation: meaning precedes existence. We are here for a purpose. That purpose is to progress toward unity -- unity within ourselves, unity among all people, unity with the Great Life of which we are a small part. Educators will increasingly realize that the purposes for which we are here are inherent in our inner constitution. At present, most psychologists and educators recognize three more or less distinct aspects of the self: the physical body, the emotional life, and the mental life. Education generally aims to achieve development of the mind on a foundation of physical and emotional control.
How can education facilitate soul awareness? The ancient injunction to `know thyself' points the way to soul awareness. Similarly, `Self realization' is the term often used to describe the immediate goal for humanity. As these phrases suggest, understanding and mastery of the forces within oneself will be central to the education of the future. Yet this should not imply an undue emphasis on introspection. Progress also depends upon a deep interest in and understanding of the world around one. Ultimately, service to others in a spirit of self-forgetfulness becomes the primary means and goal of spiritual progress. From birth onwards a new respect for the autonomy and uniqueness of every child will permeate education. Most importantly, it will be acknowledged that every child is a soul in incarnation, not a blank slate to be written upon. Therefore, educators will try to assess the particular nature of each child and adjust their methods accordingly.
The emphasis on individuality will by no means imply abandonment of group responsibility. In probably the best system of education currently operating -- Waldorf education as devised by Rudolf Steiner -- individuality develops out of a foundation of relationship to the whole. Virtually all class activities involve all students; there is little or no individualized programming. Yet Waldorf teachers devote great attention to noting and subtly responding to individual temperaments. Waldorf schools also bring the imagination and the arts into their proper balance with the more cognitive subjects and de-emphasize competition by largely eliminating grading. All of these elements would be expected to characterize elementary education in the future. For older students curricula will increasingly be oriented toward conscious efforts to integrate the personality and contact the soul. For most of humanity the key to this will be to become more mentally focused, truly a thinking being and no longer dominated and directed by emotion. The development of clear thinking in pursuit of new understanding, as opposed to the memorization of facts, will be central to higher education. Relationships among individuals and nations will be emphasized, and students will be encouraged to discern the meaning or spiritual significance of outer phenomena. The science of meditation, free from any religious overtones, will also be taught. For the more advanced members of humanity, certain Ageless Wisdom schools will be opened throughout the world. In these, specific preparation for major expansions of consciousness will take place. It is also predicted that numerous centers will be opened where young people will be taught new techniques of coming into Self-awareness. Through a simple form of meditation and the assistance of Maitreya, students will be able to experience their true identity. For these individuals, as for all humanity, it is predicted that even a brief glimpse of the true nature of the Self will engender a life of striving to realize that vision.
Article was copied from Share International magazine Maitreya has said:
"Even when you see Me, do not run after Me. If you run after Me, you will lose Me. If you parade Me, you do not know who I am. I cannot be monopolized, I belong to everyone. "Be what you are. Do not surrender your self-respect, your dignity, to others. Do not allow anyone to cast his shadow over you. A Master gives experiences, but does not cast his shadow. Do not follow one another. If you practice honesty of mind, sincerity of spirit and detachment, you will know your Self, you will know Me, you will know the Lord. "My plan is to release into the world My simple Teaching of Truth: that men are One, brothers all; that God loves all men equally; that nature provides the sustenance for everyone to share; that, coming as I do from mankind's past, I know the answers to man's dilemma. I shall show you the simple ways of change, of correctly relating one to another, of correctly manifesting the Will of God. "Many await My Coming with trepidation, fearing the loss of all that they have amassed & gained. Fear not, My friends, for the loss will be the loss of separation only, of division & fear, of envy & hate. To clear these from the world, all must be remade. Know this, My friends, & be ready to share, to see your brother as yourself, to clasp him in your arms & call him friend. In this way, My brothers, you manifest God's Plan. Towards the completion of that Plan do I work & call you to My side. Work with Me, My friends; together we shall make all things new. "In awe do men await Me. My friends I am not God. As your Brother, your Friend, your Teacher, do I come. Forget this not. "Remember this, forget not that I come to change all things. My coming brings peace. Likewise, my presence brings cleavage. My sword, that love which I am, will separate all men, will show the true from the false, will clear the way for the new light which I bring. May it be that you can withstand this change and accept my light."
Maitreya's Priorities
COLLECTIONS
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Joseph Chilton Pierce, the
author of "The Magical Child," was once given an experience of his own
inner nature by his spiritual teacher. Pierce's response was simply, "I want
that." He knew, in an indisputable way, that what he had experienced related to
his purpose for being alive, indeed the purpose for life itself. 
It is anticipated that Maitreya will repeat this feat on a world scale. He
will give all or most of us an experience of our inner nature. After that there is every
reason to expect a collective response of "We want that." From that point
on, education as we know it will begin a process of radical change.
Largely
ignored at present is the soul, or true Self, a center of consciousness more real, in an
ultimate sense, than our personalities, yet currently outside of the experience of most
people. The nature of the soul is to love and to serve. It knows neither separation nor
fear. In its experience of unity with the whole, the soul is absolutely dedicated to the
well-being of the whole. The great men and women of history such as Leonardo da Vinci,
Joan of Arc, and Mahatma Gandhi have demonstrated the nature of soul-infused' lives. Once
we realize that such lives are not chance occurrences but the result of lawful processes,
we will want systems of education that lead us consciously toward the soul. 
"I
have not come to create followers, each of you should continue to develop within your own
religious tradition. A real disciple is one who will respect the traditions. Respect your
own religions, your own ideologies, in brief, your own thoughtform, and you will
experience the Master. 
The establishment of peace 
