Baird T. Spalding - The Journey: Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East Volumes 1-3 (A Single Edition)

THE JOURNEY
Life and Teaching of the
Masters of the Far East: Volume 1-3
Copyright 2021 by DeVorss & Company

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information, storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

PRINT ISBN: 978-087516-914-9
EBOOK ISBN: 978-087516-915-6
Library of Congress Control Number: 2021020436
First Printing, 2021

DeVorss Publications
PO Box 1389
Camarillo CA 93012
www.devorss.com

Printed in The United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Spalding, Baird T. (Baird Thomas), 1857-1953, author. | Horowitz, Mitch, editor.

Title: Life and teaching of the masters of the Far East : the journey / Baird T. Spalding.

Description: Camarillo, California : DeVorss Publications, 2021. | Includes The life and teaching of a classic book : a fresh look at Baird T. Spaldings spiritual landmark in its second century by Mitch Horowitz. | Summary: "Baird Spalding played a ground-breaking role when he introduced the Western world to the wonders of a Far East expedition in 1894. The knowledge of "Masters" assisting and guiding humanity in the classic book LIFE AND TEACHING OF THE MASTERS OF THE FAR EAST became legend in metaphysical circles during the first half of the 20th century and continues today as a source of spiritual enlightenment. Originally published as 3 separate volumes, DeVorss Publications is proud to release these historic books in one edition titled THE JOURNEY. It is within these 3 volumes that Spalding details an expedition that lasted 3 years and covered the mountainous landscape of Nepal and India near the close of the 19 th century." Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021020436 (print) | LCCN 2021020437 (ebook) | ISBN 9780875169149 (paperback) | ISBN 9780875169156 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Occultism. | Spiritualism. | Philosophy, Asian.

Classification: LCC BF1999 .S6 2021 (print) | LCC BF1999 (ebook) | DDC 130 dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021020436

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021020437

B aird T Spalding played a ground-breaking role when he introduced the Western world to the wonders of a Far East expedition in 1894. The knowledge of Masters assisting and guiding humanity in the classic book LIFE AND TEACHING OF THE MASTERS OF THE FAR EAST became legend in metaphysical circles during the first half of the 20th century and continues today as a source of spiritual enlightenment. Spalding and the others were practical in nature and the thought of spiritual masters performing miracles seemed impossible. Despite these suspect thoughts, something compelled them to move onward. So they did.

Originally published as 3 separate volumes, DeVorss Publications is proud to release these historic books in one edition titled LIFE AND TEACHING: THE JOURNEY with a NEW INTRODUCTION by MITCH HOROWITZ, author of OCCULT AMERICA. It is within these 3 volumes that Spalding details an expedition that lasted 3 years and covered the mountainous landscape of Nepal and India near the close of the 19th century.

Over the life of these books, many individuals contributed to the ongoing success of LIFE AND TEACHING, as it was commonly known. Douglas DeVorss, from the beginning, had an integral role in presenting Baird Spalding and these books. Their relationship forged a path that many other publishers and authors emulated in the years to come. This partnership that started in 1929, sustained the pains and struggles of a publishing business during perhaps the most economically challenging years this country has ever faced. It was in 1953 that both men faced their own personal challenges with their transitions within months of each other: Spaldings in Tempe, AZ of natural causes; and DeVorss tragic death by gunshot in Los Angeles. The powerful message of LIFE AND TEACHING withstood that setback, and instead embarked upon a new chapter.

Orville Andres took the helm of DeVorss & Company from that day on as the guardian of LIFE AND TEACHING until 1969, when Arthur Peattie arrived and oversaw the independent publishers operations as the worlds hunger for this message began to multiply like never before. With the help of Hedda Lark, DeVorss soon became the world leader in Metaphysical publishing, which lasted throughout the remainder of the century until more and more mainstream publishing houses began to establish their own imprints of Metaphysical, New Age, Body/Mind/Spirit books. To this day, DeVorss Publications continues to market and distribute the original editions of LIFE AND TEACHING OF THE MASTERS OF THE FAR EAST VOLUMES 16, and this new edition of THE JOURNEY.

But the most important acknowledgement of all, is to you the readerthe spiritual seeker. The countless numbers of letters that have been received through the years, from all over the world, bear testimony of the tremendous help received from the message in these books.

THANKYOU

The Life and Teaching of a Classic Book

A FRESH LOOK AT BAIRD T. SPALDINGS SPIRITUAL LANDMARK IN ITS SECOND CENTURY

By Mitch Horowitz

A merican seekers have a long history of chronicling their mentorship to mysterious masters from the East.

Russian-born occultist and world traveler Madame H.P Blavatsky popularized this theme in her accounts of clandestine visitations and phenomenally produced letters from Eastern adepts of wisdom. The controversial seeker proudly reminded listeners that she was, in fact, an American citizen, gaining citizenship during her 1870s stay in the U.S. and remaining a citizen until her death in England in 1891. Other spiritual authors soon produced their own accounts, some historically sound, others speculative, and some a matter of debate, of tutelage to exotic masters and pilgrimages to Tibetan, Indian, Persian and Far Eastern spiritual settings.

Among the most popular narratives were retired Civil War chaplain Levi H. Dowlings Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ; mystic Paul Bruntons A Search in Secret India; New Thought impresario Neville Goddards recollections of studying under the tur- baned Ethiopian rabbi Abdullah; Angelo-American Alice Baileys records of esoteric teachings from Eastern adepts; Chicagoans Guy and Edna Ballards Mighty I AM dialogues; and bestselling author Carlos Castanedas alluring tales of apprenticeship under a Native American sorcerer, first published in 1968. That same year the Beatles sojourned to India to study at the ashram of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation. The dual impact of the Fab Four and Castaneda ignited the sixties generations love affair with learning from the Far East. For many Westerners this affair has never ended.

One of the most impactful American memoirists of tutelage to Far Eastern masters is not necessarily a household name but his work has surpassed the tests of both popularity and posterity: Baird T. Spalding. A western mining engineer, seeker, and writer, Spalding began publishing his encounters with Eastern adepts beginning in 1924, and his six-volume series, Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East, became a foundational voice in the literature of New Age spirituality.

In Spaldings era, the term New Age connoted a dawning epoch of spiritual awakening and universal understanding. The term today has come to reflect a radically ecumenical culture of therapeutic spirituality and open-ended spiritual search, although not necessarily shedding its earlier connation. If one defines contemporary New Age spirituality positively, as I do, it would have to be said that Spaldings enduringly popular works, now in their second century, helped forge some of the core themes, ethics, and language of New Age culture.