All the great religions posit the idea of a further revelation to be given by a future Teacher.

Christians hope for the return of the Christ, the Buddhists look for the coming of another Buddha (the Lord Maitreya), while Muslims await the Imam Mahdi, the Hindus a reincarnation of Krishna, and the Jews the Messiah.

Students of the esoteric tradition know all these as different names for the same individual the Lord Maitreya, the World Teacher, the head of the Spiritual Hierarchy of Masters, and they look for His imminent return now.

In the esoteric tradition, the word 'Christ' is not the name of an individual, but of an office or function within the Hierarchy of Masters. The present holder of that office, Maitreya, the Master of all the Masters, has been the Christ for the past 2,600 years.

In July 1977, Maitreya emerged from His centre in the Himalayas, when least expected, "like a thief in the night". Since then, He has lived in London as an ordinary man concerned with modem problems – political, economic and social. Since March 1978, He has been emerging as a spokesman in the Pakistani-Indian community. He is not a religious leader, but an educator in the broadest sense – pointing the way out of the present world crisis. According to esoteric teaching, Maitreya manifested Himself 2,000 years ago in Palestine by overshadowing His disciple Jesus – now the Master Jesus.

Maitreya's spiritual teaching: Maitreya intends to teach humanity "the art of Self-realization". The first steps are "honesty of mind, sincerity of spirit and detachment."

Maitreya's social concern is reflected in His list of priorities: an adequate supply of the right food, adequate housing and shelter for all, healthcare and education as a universal right. His social message can be summarized in a few words: "Share and save the world."

The preparations for His public emergence have now been completed. Since late 1991, Maitreya is carrying out a series of appearances. On 11 June 1988, He appeared miraculously, "out of the blue", at a prayer/healing meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. He was photographed addressing thousands of people who instantly recognized Him as the Christ. Similar events have now been witnessed by large numbers in different countries. In this way, more and more people receive proof of His presence and, hopefully, in due course will demand media response. Maitreya expects this approach to lead to the Day of Declaration, when He will mentally 'overshadow' all of humanity simultaneously. Each of us will hear His words inwardly, telepathically, in our own language, and all will know that the World Teacher is now among us.
 
 

Benjamin Creme, one of the principal sources of information about the work of the World Teacher, was born in Scotland in 1922. An artist by profession, he lives with his wife and family in London, England. Since his early youth, he has been interested in esoteric philosophy.

In 1959, he received his first telepathic message from his Master, a member of the spiritual Hierarchy, an event which came as a complete surprise to him.

Not long afterwards, he was informed that Maitreya would return within 20 years and that he would be given the opportunity to play an active role in this event if he chose to do so.

In 1972, under his Master's direction, he began a period of arduous and intensive training as a result of which his telepathic contact with his Master became, and remains, continuous and immediate. This relationship has given him access to constant up-to-date information on the progress of the emergence and the total conviction necessary to present that information to a sceptical world.

His lecture tours now include Western and Eastern Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico and the US.

Crème's books have been translated and published in numerous languages throughout the world by groups responding to his message. He is also co-editor of Share International, a monthly magazine circulating in 70 countries, extracts from which make up this newspaper, The Emergence Quarterly.

Creme receives no remuneration for this work and makes no claims about his own spiritual status.

My task, Creme says, has been to make the initial approach to the public, to help create a climate of hope and expectancy into which Maitreya can emerge without infringing our freewill.