The Synthetic Ashram and The Wisdom Group

(An extract from the N.S. Study Guide)

First, the Synthetic Ashram seems to have been founded in the mid 1940’s, well after most of the Bailey books (and other resources) were written. Second, D. K. appears to mention the creation of the Ashram in his annual Wesak message of 1946:

“April-May 1946

“I have delayed writing my usual Wesak message until this late date because of a certain event in the Hierarchy which was maturing and which necessitated my entire attention. This event was connected with the Wesak Festival and involved among other matters the formation of a new Ashram in which the Wisdom aspect would be of particular importance and not the Love aspect; this Ashram would also be related in a peculiar manner to the Buddha. It had to be formed at this time in order to be the recipient, and then the custodian, of certain ‘endowments’ which the Buddha will bring at the time of the May Full Moon. The endowments concern the will-to-good of the Lord of the World, the Ancient of Days, though they do not concern goodwill as you understand that phrase. This Ashram, when duly formed and established, will enable the Members of the Hierarchy to respond to this aspect of the divine Purpose—the Purpose which as you know lies behind and implements the Plan; this Ashram, related to the Buddha, will be specifically under the close supervision of the Christ, and also the Lord of Civilisation—at this time the Master R. They are the only two Members of the Hierarchy able to register the divine Purpose (in regard to its immediate objectives) in such a manner that the entire Hierarchy can be informed and can then work unitedly and intelligently at its implementation. More than this I may not tell you about this particular move, affecting as it does both Shamballa and the Hierarchy.”

The Externalization of The Hierarchy, by Alice A. Bailey, Lucis Publishing Company, p. 541

This paragraph has several elements that are very suggestive:

1. In Teacher Training we are told that the Ray Make-up of the Synthetic Ashram is 1st, 2nd, and 7th, and the three-fold Monad at its heart consists of M., D. K., and R. In the above, D. K. indicates that this new Ashram:
- a. “will enable the Members of the Hierarchy to respond to ... the will-to-good ... aspect of the divine Purpose”. This is an aspect of the First Planetary ray.
- b. “will be specifically under the close supervision of the Christ, and also the Lord of Civilisation—at this time the Master R.” Thus Christ (and the Second Planetary ray) and R. (with the Seventh Planetary ray) are definitely involved.

Thus Christ (and the Second Planetary Ray) and R. (with the Seventh Planetary Ray) are definitely involved.

2. We have been told that when Lucille put aside her work with N.S., she took up Tibetan Buddhism, saying that it was The Wisdom in an Eastern form.
- a. “this Ashram, related to the Buddha”, thus, there is a subjective connection.
3. When asked by a T.T. student what the name of the Group was, R. (through Lucille) replied that it was known as “The Wisdom Group”.
- a. “the Wisdom aspect would be of particular importance”

Thus, this reference fits. The Synthetic Ashram may have been created on Wesak in 1946. If this does refer to the creation of the Synthetic Ashram, then it suggests a number of things about that Ashram, The Wisdom Group, and the Lesson material:

1. It explains why N.S. and the associated courses refer to “The Wisdom” rather than The Ageless Wisdom, The Ancient Wisdom, etc. The courses are referring to a New Thought-Form Presentation of The Wisdom Aspect. This New T.F.P.W. was formulated for, and made available to, the workers of the new Ashram. In this context, the term “Ageless Wisdom” includes all interpretations of The Wisdom Aspect. The terms “Ancient Wisdom”, “Ancient Wisdom Traditions”, “Ageless Wisdom Traditions” and Ancient Mysteries refer to interpretations of The Ageless Wisdom that were designed for the humanity of a particular time and place.

2. D. K. and M.’s involvement in the Ashram is that of transforming centers. D. K. steps down The Wisdom in frequency, and M. steps down The Will to Good, to the point where probationer disciples can perceive and utilize it. They are able to do this because The Christ and R. have already stepped it down to the point where the Senior Initiates of the Hierarchy can perceive and utilize it.

3. The Wisdom Group is an embodiment of the Logoic Will To Good, as expressed in The Wisdom.

4. The Wisdom focuses the disciple’s aspiration on Monadic Activity or Disciplic Work rather than Disciplic Knowledge.

5. The Wisdom Group is probably an expression of the Ashram described by D. K. (it is certainly not the expression). In fact, some of the early material refers to other groups in Connecticut and in England, and some have heard of another in British Columbia.

6. The Nature of The Soul is primarily overshadowed by Master R. (The Lord of Civilization and the Chohan [6th degree Initiate] of the 7th Ray). That is why N.S. is a course in Disciplic Work rather than Disciplic Understanding.

Earlier in Externalisation of The Hierarchy (pp. 285 - 312) we find references to the Avatar of Synthesis. These are highly suggestive when seen in the light of the above.

“2. A Messenger or Avatar of equal rank to the Christ in the Hierarchy (or possibly Christ Himself) may come forth as the Representative of the Avatar of Synthesis and as His transmitting Agent.
- “a. This lesser Avatar works today as one of the senior Members of the Great White Lodge and is in close touch with the Christ, with the Manu and with the Lord of Civilisation, the Master R—; He will act as the Coordinator between the Hierarchy and Shamballa. He will fuse and blend in Himself, through the quality of His Own life, the three great energies:
- “d. The whole problem before the Hierarchy and humanity today, in connection with the coming Avatar, can be summed up in the following four questions:
  - “Can He bring the energy of synthesis with Him, thereby bringing about rapid changes?
  - “This depends upon His being overshadowed by the Avatar of Synthesis and upon that Avatar being evoked through the demand and the massed intent of humanity, aided by the Hierarchy.
  - “Will the demand of the people be strong enough to evoke the higher potency, or will it be too feeble because of the failure of the world disciples and aspirants to focus this massed intent throughout the planet?
  - “Will the higher overshadowing not take place and only the lesser Avatar come to institute a slower method of gradual reform?”
Externalisation of the Hierarchy, pgs. 304 - 305

Further information on the Synthetic Ashram is available in chapter 4 of The Magic of Consciousness, by Glen Knape

Further information on The Work of Lucille Cedercrans Lucille is available from Wisdom Impressions Publishers.

Copyright © 1997 by Glen W. Knape. All rights, including copyrights, reserved.