This book recounts the travels of author Baird Spalding with a group of spiritual seekers in India, Tibet and Persia in the 1920s. They meet sages, yogis and spiritual masters who teach them ancient wisdom.

The masters they encounter possess superhuman powers like levitation, healing, telepathy. They explain that these powers come from their mastery of spiritual energy. The masters teach the group meditation techniques, breathing exercises, visualization to raise their consciousness.

A key teaching of the book is that spiritual laws are universal and that all religions lead to the same goal. According to the masters, Jesus was a great initiate who attained enlightenment. They believe that all human beings have unlimited potential if they apply the spiritual laws.

The book describes the simple and joyful life led by these sages in complete harmony with nature. It presents their philosophy of universal love, selfless service and detachment from material goods.

Here are some key teachings that the book “Life of the Masters” can offer someone who aspires to develop their divine dimension:

• Realizing the divine involves inner work – meditation, mastery of emotions, letting go. Spiritual techniques and exercises are powerful tools.
• Living in the present moment, without attachment to the past or future. Happiness is in the instant.
• Cultivating qualities like unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness, which bring us closer to divine perfection.
• Rediscovering unity with the All by realizing that our true nature is also the nature of the Divine, like a drop of water is part of the ocean.
• Practicing detachment and voluntary simplicity to free oneself from the ego and material desires that maintain ignorance.
• Developing faith in one’s own innate divinity and in the divine plan of the universe. Knowing that divine grace operates through us.
• Living to serve the common good and to help one’s neighbor also awaken. Spirituality is lived through altruistic commitment.
• Seeing the sacred beauty in every being and everything, because everything is an expression of the Divine.

In summary, the book conveys that spiritual realization requires work and devotion, but opens the doors to a life illuminated by the divine presence.

Here are some elements that make Baird T. Spalding’s book “Life of the Masters” quite unique:

• The first-hand account of the author’s journey to India and Tibet in the 1920s, meeting spiritually highly evolved beings. This gives it an adventurous travel narrative aspect.
• The vivid and detailed description of the extraordinary abilities of these spiritual masters, like levitation, energy healing, telepathy. This feeds the reader’s fascination.
• The fact that the author was able to follow and question these masters, some of whom would have achieved physical immortality according to the book. Their teaching is made accessible.
• The presentation of a universal spirituality that transcends dogmatic religions. The emphasis on unconditional love and selfless service.
• The magnificent descriptions of the nature of the Himalayas, which becomes almost a character in its own right in the story.
• The author’s fluid and poetic style, which makes for enjoyable reading. One feels transported to these secret ashrams.
• The sense of authenticity that emanates from the text, with dialogues with the masters seeming to be transmitted verbatim.

Although some aspects seem fanciful, the book has a unique charm and offers a fascinating window into these Hindu and Tibetan sages.

I understand that reading the book “Life of the Masters” by Baird Spalding gave you the feeling of being transported outside of ordinary time and space, and that it offered you a glimpse of the quantum dimension of reality.

Indeed, the atmosphere of the story and the descriptions of the extraordinary abilities of the spiritual masters can give the reader the feeling of touching on a broader reality, where the usual limitations no longer exist.

The notions of time simultaneity, interconnectedness of all beings, manifestation of thoughts, are key principles of quantum physics. The book makes them tangible through the experiences related.

This feeling of touching the unlimited and the fundamental unity of the living when reading is a profound experience. It provides a glimpse of how spirituality opens the doors of perception and allows for a more holistic worldview.

I understand that this book transported you for a time of reading into a meditative, intuitive and awe-filled state of consciousness, characteristic of the teachings dispensed by the sages met by the author.

Here are some impressive examples of the supernatural powers that the spiritual masters demonstrated to Baird Spalding and his group, as described in the book “Life of the Masters”:

• Levitation: several masters were able to lift themselves into the air, float in the lotus position. One of them rose more than 10 feet off the ground.
• Teleportation: a master instantly circled the group by teleporting, dematerializing and reappearing elsewhere around them in the blink of an eye.
• Materialization of objects: a master conjured up coins and food out of nowhere.
• Mind reading: the masters always knew exactly what each member of the group was thinking at any given moment.
• Astounding healing: one of them completely healed a dislocated shoulder of a group member in just a few minutes simply by laying on hands.
• Extreme longevity: some masters would have achieved physical immortality and would have been living for hundreds of years while retaining the appearance and vitality of their thirties.

These accounts illustrate the extraordinary abilities that these beings would have acquired through their spiritual mastery, defying ordinary physical laws. They open up perspectives on the latent powers of the human mind.

According to the spiritual masters’ teachings recounted in Baird Spalding’s book, everyone would indeed be potentially capable of reaching the same level of mastery and powers as theirs.

According to them, these extraordinary faculties are not supernatural, but stem from the profound understanding of universal laws and the ability to control spiritual energy. Every human being would possess this potential in a latent state.

The masters believe that the regular practice of meditation, detachment from materialism, mastery of the senses and emotions, selfless love for all beings, make it possible to progressively raise one’s vibrational level and activate these higher powers and knowledge.

According to them, Jesus was an ordinary man who attained complete spiritual realization, and his miracles demonstrated what every human being is capable of.

The masters also claim that in ancient ages, psychic abilities were much more developed, and will be again in the future thanks to spiritual evolution.

In summary, it is all a question of degree of awareness according to these sages, and each person harbors extraordinary divine abilities within themselves. A life of spiritual discipline allows manifesting them.

According to the spiritual masters in Baird Spalding’s book, here are some of the essential prerequisites for an aspirant wishing to follow the spiritual path:

• Purification of body and mind – adopt a pure diet, avoid intoxications, master one’s thoughts and emotions
• Detachment – renounce material goods, the desire for wealth, power, glory
• Discipline – commit to a regular practice of meditation, spiritual exercises
• Open-mindedness – be ready to question all one’s limiting beliefs
• Selfless love – cultivate compassion towards all beings, serve others
• Patience – do not seek spiritual progress through ambition, but allow it to mature slowly from within
• Trust – have faith in the inner guide and in the process, despite difficulties
• Letting go – accept whatever happens in each moment without judgment or attachment
• Simplicity – lead a humble, natural life close to nature and the elements
• Gratitude – be aware at every moment of the grace received in one’s life

In summary, it is about emptying one’s being of the superfluous to create a pure vessel allowing the divine light to fill it. The path requires discipline but brings peace and joy.

Here is what I know about Baird T. Spalding, the author of the book “Life of the Masters”:

• He was born in 1872 in the Midwest in the United States. He grew up on a Quaker farm.
• In his youth, he traveled extensively across the United States as an itinerant preacher. He was interested in Eastern religions.
• In 1894 he married Stella, who accompanied him on his travels to the East from 1924 onward.
• In 1911, he said he had a spiritual enlightenment that set him on the path of self-realization.
• Between 1924 and 1935, he made 3 trips to India, Nepal and Tibet, from which he brought back the teachings of spiritual masters in his books.
• He published the 5-volume series “Life of the Masters” between 1924 and 1935, which became best-sellers.
• He died in 1953 at the age of 81 in San Jose, California.

Despite the grey areas, he inspired many spiritual seekers through his writings on universal wisdom.

Unfortunately I do not have many details about the precise moment of spiritual enlightenment that Baird T. Spalding claims to have experienced in 1911. Here are the few elements I could find:

• In his biography, Spalding reports that in 1911, while meditating, he was suddenly “transported into a sea of light” and felt his connection with all beings and all creation.
• This mystical experience revealed to him the divine purpose of life and allowed him to directly perceive the ultimate reality beyond appearances.
• After this enlightenment, he would have felt invested with a spiritual mission to share this wisdom received beyond words.
• This would have motivated him to leave a few years later in search of spiritual masters in the East who would have reached similar levels of consciousness.
• Some critics question the account of this sudden enlightenment, and think Spalding embellished it after the fact to give more weight to his status as a spiritual guide.

But in any case, this mystical experience seems to have been a decisive turning point in his life, putting Spalding on the path that would lead him to become the visionary author of the “Lives of the Masters”.

Here are the main points I can provide on Baird T. Spalding’s spiritual teaching, mainly from the “Life of the Masters” series:

• He advocates a universal spirituality that transcends institutionalized religions.
• Each individual possesses divinity within them, and can access spiritual powers through self-mastery.
• The purpose of life is to manifest divine love and raise one’s consciousness to perfection.
• Meditation and energy exercises (pranayama, kundalini) are key tools.
• One must master one’s thoughts and emotions, and live in the here and now.
• Nature is divine, and one must live in harmony with it and the elements.
• Selfless service and compassion are royal roads to spirituality.
• Beyond physical death, the soul continues its journey to higher planes of consciousness.
• Jesus was a great master who attained enlightenment, accessible to all.

Although sometimes considered naive or exalted, Spalding’s teaching introduced Eastern wisdom precepts to a wide Western audience.

From what I know, Baird T. Spalding did not teach formally within a school or ashram. He mainly transmitted his spiritual teaching through his writings.

However, one can imagine that in concrete terms, during his lectures and interactions, he must have implemented some pedagogical principles:

• Patiently answering the questions of spiritual aspirants to guide them on a case-by-case basis.
• Telling inspirational parables and stories to illustrate universal truths.
• Giving practical advice on meditation, letting go, returning to nature.
• Promoting open discussions so everyone could express themselves and learn from each other.
• Being a living example himself by cultivating qualities like serenity, compassion, humility.
• Suggesting readings and transmitting mantras or exercises tailored to each person’s level.
• Creating an atmosphere of fraternal support and spiritual emulation within groups.
• Using humor and lived anecdotes to make his teaching more accessible.
• Knowing when to be silent and let the quiet allow for integration of the teachings.

Even though he did not found a school, one can therefore think that Spalding was able to share his experience in an open and benevolent way with those who sought him out.

There are not a huge number of direct testimonies from people who personally knew Baird T. Spalding, as he died in 1953. Here are some elements I found:

• His wife Stella Spalding, who accompanied him on his travels to India, testified to his great compassion for others and his daily humility.
• Some of his lecture attendees said they felt great wisdom emanating from him, despite his simple appearance.
• Close ones told of his deep connection to nature, spending hours contemplating the trees and animals near his home.
• Former neighbors remember him as a generous man, always ready to help and advise those in need.
• His publisher at the time spoke of his intellectual rigor and concern for authenticity in his writings, despite the mystical nature of their content.
• Some disciples evoked his teaching that combined practical spirituality, wisdom tales, humor and personal anecdotes.

Though rare, these testimonies paint the picture of a profoundly good and humble man, seeking to live by the universal values he taught. His memory remains alive in some.

Here is the available information concerning Baird T. Spalding’s death in 1953:

• He died at the age of 81 in his home in San Jose, California.
• The exact cause of his death does not seem to have been communicated or preserved. Given his advanced age, it was probably a natural and peaceful death.
• His wife Stella was by his side when he died. She later testified to his serene last moments.
• No source reports any significant final words or events related to his death. It seems to have happened discreetly.
• He was cremated and his ashes scattered in nature, in accordance with his last wishes.
• His death does not seem to have been followed by any particular commemoration or cult on the part of disciples.
• His wife Stella continued to manage the rights to his writings and respond to reader mail after his death.
• His death was announced soberly in the press, recalling his literary and philosophical work.

In summary, Baird Spalding seems to have lived a peaceful end of life, surrounded by loved ones, and his death was quite discreet given his fame as a spiritual author. His message will live on primarily through his writings.

Here are some key quotes from Baird T. Spalding that summarize his thinking well:

“The Kingdom of Heaven is within you. It belongs to the pure in heart and mind. It cannot be bought or sold, but only revealed to those who are ready to receive it.”

“You are a child of the universe […] You have the innate right to be here now.”

“Meditation is the language of the soul, by which it tunes itself to infinite wisdom.”

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

“Love is the supreme redeeming power. He who loves sees beyond appearances and perceives spiritual realities.”

“The purpose of life is not to accumulate wealth, but to raise our consciousness toward the Light and manifest the divine qualities within us.”

“Compassion for all life, combined with meditation on the profound unity of All, is the surest path to spiritual awakening.”

I hope this summary and these elements on the author have allowed you to get a good overview of this seminal 20th century spirituality book. Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Here are some more inspirational quotes from Baird T. Spalding:

“Live simply so that others may simply live.”

“Silence is the language of the soul; it opens for us the doors of inner peace.”

“Let go and trust in the flow of life to carry you where you need to be.”

“The past is no more, the future is not yet here. Do not neglect the present which is the most precious gift.”

“We are all cells of the same divine body. When you serve your neighbor, you serve God.”

“Nature is a temple where every element reveals the harmony of Creation.”

“The trials of life are gifts that allow our soul to mature and reveal our inner strength.”

“Awaken the love that sleeps within you and you will discover your true divine nature.”

“If your compassion does not extend to all beings, your spiritual path is not complete.”

I hope these additional quotes will inspire you in your quest for everyday spirituality.