Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East, by Baird T. Spalding

Many many years ago, when we first encountered Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East, by Baird T. Spalding, we were entranced.

Imagine: it’s 1890. A team of scientists and researchers set off into the Himalayas. And they start meeting mysterious men who demonstrate extraordinary powers and eagerly impart ancient Oriental truths.

It’s a lovely story. There’s only one problem.

It’s probably not true.

Don’t freak out

If you know these books — Life and Teaching of the Masters is a six-volume set — you may wish to the depths of your heart that Spalding was recounting a literal truth. We certainly did. But today, it’s generally recognized that Spalding didn’t visit the Himalayas when he said he did — he didn’t travel there until much later. And if you read the text carefully, you’ll notice that he doesn’t share any details that might corroborate his account. He never gives the names of the other Westerners who were supposedly with him. He doesn’t provide a map or the names of any landmarks or villages. And many of the things he claims to have witnessed or learned about second hand are so extraordinary as to stretch even the most credulous reader. A temple that heals itself? A guru who immobilized himself for so long that birds nested in his overgrown beard hair?

So what was Spalding? A con man? A charlatan?

Neither. He was a Story-Teller.

Spalding didn’t write Life and Teachings in order to con people. The books were written in the tradition of metaphysical fiction. They were intended to convey higher truths, but in a format that people would find striking and memorable.

The presentation worked. Life and Teaching of the Masters has been an enormous best-seller ever since it was first published in 1924. Spalding himself became enormously influential among leaders of the New Thought movement of the early-mid Twentieth Century.

And the lessons of his books continue to resonate today. Life and Teaching of the Masters challenges us to question whether we should accept our limitations or expect the miraculous.

And that’s an challenge we all need to take.

So if you’re looking for a metaphysical classic that asks you to connect, imaginatively, to a world where humans can transcend space, time, and death itself, Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East is a terrific addition to your library.

14 comments

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    • Marian on February 21, 2019 at 11:32 am
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    To those who say negative things about the books “Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East” I have but one thing to say to you! Ye of little faith. Ye are Blind. Ye cannot see the truth that you have before you. How do you wish to go to the kingdom of Heaven within, if you cannot even see the truth when it is in your face?

    Instead of complaining that you don’t think that the author went someplace that he told you he did, or that his dates are not correct, how about looking at the truth within the books and applying that Truth to your life.

    Try applying the truth that is stated in these books to your inner self. Then ye might be able to become the Christ in reality. Jesus said unto thee: Know that ye are God!

    These books give you many guidelines on how to become the Christ and the God that you are.

      • luis on April 18, 2020 at 10:40 am
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      and did you? …or to which degree?

      I like the books.

      What exactly did you apply to your life ?

        • SW on June 23, 2022 at 7:40 pm
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        it’s not like you stop at Mac Donald’s and ask for burger, you’ll need a lot of practice, I personally achieved out of body travel learned a lot and still, and i know someone who did meet those masters. he’s friend of mine

    1. I’m with you 💕 I choose love.

      • Jamie Downey on June 27, 2021 at 10:57 am
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      The authors authenticity is of importance . Metaphysical truth is so desperately needed in this world . When the truthfulness of the authors account gets called into question so does the truth in the books.
      Good intentions or not .

        • SW on June 23, 2022 at 7:44 pm
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        Baird T. Spalding experience and his book is a real event, most of the Christians around the world follow Jesus, but if they see him on the road they won’t recognize him, even if you tell them that’s him won’t believe you, because of educational system doesn’t allow them to think and to recognize the truth

    • Chichoe on May 4, 2020 at 9:30 am
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    we needn’t justify or proove any miracle if this is a truth. it’s only happened to whom their value is appreciated for what they trust infinitely.

    • MaHa on August 25, 2020 at 3:51 pm
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    I loved these books…they played a HUGE part of my Spiritual journey into the Illumined Worlds…I have transcended this Matrix and attribute this box set. That and many other modalities….
    When One Knows themself as God, nothing is impossible, and that’s what these books do…it is Truth that those in places of absolute Divinity become Divine…
    Thank you Spalding for the gift of Sight in an unseen world….
    MaHa’ShaHala

    • Frank Ransom on August 10, 2021 at 7:09 pm
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    I have only been exposed to the first 2 volumes and by exposed I am referring to that LIGHT that can only emanate from GOD. I have seen a great light as spoken in scriptures. All I know now is before I lived in fear of GOD and now I am confident in his absolute love for me and HE is my FATHER. And I now see where ALL are my brothers/sisters, we ARE family. Oh ye of little faith.

    • Vanessa on September 15, 2021 at 2:58 am
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    I have read many books including this one. I have experienced many things from Masters appearing before me to their teachings that showed me how to co-create crop circles by uniting my music with my soul and GOD. I have learned many many things and have had many spiritual experiences. Each of us is ONE with the other. Each of us possesses their individual gifts. GOD is ONE within us. Life can be extraordinary. I am ONE with you! It doesnt make me a liar if I choose to share those experiences even tho I may not be able to prove much but….I HAVE proven that those of us gifted in my particular area truly do co-create crop circles!! Yet….no one wanted to listen. It had to be E.T.’s or Angel’s or something other than ourselves. Yet this is our planet and we are responsible for it!!
    And these days we are moving higher in frequencies. These days I see golden sparks and Ray’s everywhere I go. It is the transcendence of frequencies. Yet I have been at this my entire life and perhaps that’s what it takes. The higher your frequency the more one will experience being ONE with GOD. And being witness to miracles.
    These days I am on vacation. I am much much older and have taken on too many illnesses to be very active. It is time for me to work on transmuting those illnesses and to enjoy my life. My days volunteering as a Spiritual Counselor are over. Dont forget your prayers for others….

    • Natalia on January 20, 2022 at 4:49 pm
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    I love these books. They are uplifting and mind-blowing. Who does not want to perfect his body, appear ever fresh and young, and just serve God? I have the fortune to have met enlightened people and I am with a guru who has siddhi’s, although she does not talk much about it. Beeing in her presence is delicately joyous. It makes me and others younger and lighter.

    • Alano Portanero on July 9, 2022 at 8:13 pm
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    I’m just about done with the first volume. I have all six. and hoping to find, the original copies of the series. I am a believer. I believe the message to Jesus brought us, has been buried under lies and editing of the scriptures by the Roman Catholic Church, through their military arm, The Jesuits. Who murdered and killed people that didn’t follow the doctrine of the Roman catholic church. I believe, Jesus didn’t tell us to wait for the afterlife, but I was teaching us how to live in this life. Just like Emil & Jast live in the series.

    • Kathy on September 29, 2022 at 3:51 am
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    It is so disappointing to hear that the critics say that’s not true and he never did any of that. Well you know what I’ll tell you I enjoyed and took so much from those books. They changed my life they taught me how to pray how to believe and myself and I just think they’re huge part of my life and I will just not worry about what they critics say. I enjoy those stories thoroughly and it helped me look deep into myself and help me pray, and reach the goals that I wanted to.

    • Dawn on December 16, 2022 at 4:09 pm
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    not that ye are God, but know ye that the Lord he is God.

    Psalm 100:3-5
    King James Version
    3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

    4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

    5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

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