Between 1988 and 1993 Maitreya, the World Teacher, released a series of forecasts and analyses of the current state of the world, as well as fragments of His teachings. Through one of His close associates in the Asian community of London, these were released to Share International for publication and were sent to the world’s media as press releases. Phrased in the words of His associate, Maitreya’s spiritual teachings are arranged here by subject in the hope of facilitating the reader’s study and application in daily life.

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Maitreya's teachings
Honesty, sincerity and detachment

Highlights of Maitreya's spiritual teachings on these three essential qualities. (1680 words)

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Honesty of Mind

“When you think one thing, say another, and do something which is different again, you are lost. Honesty of mind leads to honest speech and honest action. This harmony leads to peace and happiness. Maitreya says: ‘Whether you are a thief or a saint, you can begin right now.’” (Share International, Dec 1988)

“Right motive and a willingness to serve the cause of truth are necessary qualities.” (Sep 1988)

“If you are honest with yourself, you are honest with the Lord.” (Dec 1990)

Sincerity of Spirit

“People have asked: “How do we begin: how do we practise sincerity?” Consider an expression which is often used, such as ‘having a heart-to-heart talk’ with someone. What does this mean? It means you will express yourself as you really are, you will communicate from the centre — your centre — the Self. Practise this. It will transform you and those around you.” (Dec 1988)

“If you are sincere with yourself, you are sincere with the Lord.” (Dec 1990)

Detachment

“Detachment means the Self is using energy.” (Dec 1989)

“Detachment is the process whereby man ceases to identify with the body (material aspect), with the mind (thought aspect) and with spirit (energy or power aspect). Thus he comes to know and be his real Self.

Any action you perform should be done according to these three principles: honesty of mind, sincerity of spirit and detachment. Any action performed with dishonesty of mind, an insincere spirit and attachment is destructive.” (Oct 1988)

“Start from the beginning: practise detachment. What is the Ego? It is an Energy-Governing Organ. Your mind, spirit and body can become wrapped in that energy. If you are freed from that energy, you can come and go at will. You can use it.” (Jun 1988)

“The Self is endless. Awareness is endless. Mind, spirit and body have a beginning and an end. With detachment, the Self experiences phenomena in mind, spirit and body, but it does not get attached to the miraculous powers of which mind, spirit and body are capable.

The laws of creation are in the mind. The universal energy is in the spirit and the forum for the materialization of the creation is the physical body.

In effect, when the Self observes God’s powers it is detachment which saves the Self from imprisonment in the bondages of life.

Detachment is the most powerful ‘drug’. It becomes so effective that it immunizes the Self from the processes and proceedings of mind, spirit and body.

To learn detachment is an art. A scientist, with detachment, will learn the laws of physics and chemistry (the laws of creation) and will apply them, creating things which constitute God’s work.

The artist, with detachment, will be able to describe God through his own experiences.

The destiny of one and all is to be, one day, free of mind, spirit and body. This in itself becomes salvation.” (Sep 1989)

“When you are detached, the Self experiences these powers and allows the fulfilment of divine purpose. To possess is not only to misuse but to misdirect and to interfere.” (Dec 1988)

“Maitreya says: ‘The moment you experience Me with detachment, you will respect Me in My various forms. You will not cry for the form; you cry only when you are possessive.’” (Sep 1989)

“In childhood you are detached. But as you grow, if you become attached, you lose the beauty of life. The Lord comes again, in your old age, to free you.” (Dec 1989)

“Just as the body must be bathed, detachment is the ‘bath’ of mind, and awareness is the ‘bath’ of spirit. When you roam in mind, spirit and body remember that your resting place is in Self‑awareness. When you sleep, if you sleep ‘in mind’ you wake up exhausted. If you sleep ‘in spirit’ you may experience extraordinary things. If you sleep in Self-awareness, it is a good sleep. Maitreya says: ‘I never desert you.’” (Dec 1989)

“Every second, changes are taking place, so fast that there is no point in holding on to old modes of political and religious control. Nothing can remain stagnant and no one knows which direction changes will take. That is why it is vital that we should not cling to old ideas, but be detached.” (Mar 1990)

“‘What happens to one who ardently believes in particular ideologies when he dies? Can anyone answer this? On the deathbed, everything is left behind. Again, at that moment, the discipline of detachment works on mind, spirit and body. So detachment is a very significant factor in life.’

Maitreya adds: ‘Invite politicians, philosophers, and scientists to answer the question: how significant is detachment in life? And if it is, why are you conditioning people with ideologies, thus creating nothing but confusion?’” (Nov 1990)

“Maitreya says: ‘What you have now may be taken away from you in time. This is why detachment is very important. One who practises attachment cannot achieve salvation.’” (Dec 1990)

“Without detachment there is no salvation.” (Dec 1988)

“There are disciples who have followed a spiritual master and have not reached the ultimate goal of freedom and salvation despite the fact that they have been practising day and night. In Maitreya’s view, they return to society but not to normality. Their life is like a ship without a rudder. They create a class or group of their own.

Similarly, in the 1960s, expectations were not fulfilled in schools and universities. Young people began to live for the day, and to live together. They became ‘hippies’. Many of these were unable to rejoin society in a satisfactory way.

This is why Maitreya says: ‘Detachment is the divine water which leads one to divine freedom and salvation.’ He adds: ‘Attachment is the root cause of destruction. If you get attached even to a spiritual principle, it will destroy you. Possessiveness, in this sense, leads to witchcraft.’

The teachings of Jesus are about detachment. ‘Love thy neighbour as thyself’ means that although your neighbour has made you angry, through love that anger will dissolve. You realize you are not that anger. In this way clouds come and go, but you remain the same. You are not conditioned, not imprisoned. This is divine freedom in creation. Maitreya says: ‘You are in the Light, and the Light is in you.’” (Jan/Feb 1991)

“Human activities which are conditioned, known as ‘karmas’, are subject to the laws of cause and effect. Maitreya says: ‘If you do not practise detachment in your life’s activities, you experience hindrances, stagnation and imprisonment. Life becomes cyclic (ie repetitive). It remains chained to the laws of cause and effect. Then there is no peace, no grace, no happiness, no freedom, no salvation.

This is why detachment is such an important discipline in life.’

Maitreya says: ‘Life without detachment is like a serpent without a head. In ancient times, the serpent became a powerful symbol: either you tamed the serpent or it would kill you.’” (Mar 1991)

“When confusion, chaos and destruction have exhausted the cycle, you will experience emptiness, loneliness. This is a prelude to a peaceful, constructive life — a life of happiness.

When you give up the futile struggle you will experience a life free of burdens. You will experience a lightness within you (i.e. a lightness that comes when you are free of attachments). You will find newness, hope, happiness and absence of hindrance.

(The teaching on detachment exists in the Vedic scriptures, in Islam, in Christianity. The principle can be applied now by everyone.)” (Mar 1991)

“Maitreya says: ‘I bless the poison and the nectar with equanimity. I am on the side of neither Yes or No. I do not participate in situations. When you are at the bottom of the mountain, what do you see? You see the diversities of the mountain. But when you view it from the peak, everything looks the same. You are not goaded by religion or politics for you view all with equal detachment.’” (May 1991)

“Through detachment you begin to lead a life of wholesomeness; you experience oneness. If you are attached you experience something closing in upon you.” (Dec 1991)

“It is detachment which frees you from suffering.” (Apr 1989)

“When you are detached in mind, spirit and body, then whatever happens around you and within you does not touch you. You are immune. This is salvation. As long as you are attached you will experience struggle, the ups and downs in life.

Knowledge and wisdom create the strongest bonds of attachment. This is why Maitreya says: ‘Be what you are. You are not knowledge. You are not wisdom. You (the Self) and I (the Self) are One.’ (This is not a recipe for the preservation of ignorance; rather a warning against the feeling of possessiveness as regards knowledge and wisdom. This possessiveness feeds pride and creates attachment.)

Maitreya says: ‘Whoever, whatever, wherever you are, tread the divine water of cleanliness which is detachment. I have not come to teach you anything new. Be honest to yourself, sincere to yourself, and be detached.

This method is so simple, so sweet, it is free from religions, ideologies, politics. It makes one experience who one is. Fulfil your role, yet be free.’” (Jun 1992)

“If you become attached, even to divinity, it will destroy you. What is truly divine is detachment. In detachment you will see the divine powers of the Lord but you will be detached from them.” (Jun 1992)

“Maitreya teaches that when you are detached and therefore aware, you are one with God. Your doubts disappear.” (Oct 1993)