Approach - Vol 1 No 04 - 1958 07

Magazine Overview

Title: APPROACH
Issue: Vol. 1, No. 4
Date: July, 1958
Publisher: Sagittarius Publishers, Pretoria, South Africa
Editor: Edgar Sievers

This issue of APPROACH, a monthly review focused on 'Man in Life and Space,' delves into themes of inner development, peace, brotherhood, and extraterrestrial phenomena. The publication is presented as a non-profit, Peace and Brotherhood Programme initiative.

Contents

The issue features a diverse range of articles and sections:

• Courage of Detachment: An editorial exploring how to maintain peace and brotherhood by focusing on the inner self and detaching from negativity.
• Night Session Dialogue: A discussion on spiritual growth, the nature of questions and answers, and the possibility of reincarnation or transmigration.
• Space Ship Field News: Reports on UFO sightings, including one by the editor's brother near Lichtenburg, South Africa, and another near Swakopmund, South West Africa.
• The UFO News Stand: A roundup of UFO publications and reports from various continents, mentioning contacts with 'space people' and official statements on communication difficulties.
• A Point, a Theme and my Angle: A brief note on a competition for short entries about looking into the sky.
• Our Book Service: The first list of recommended books on UFO, Space, and Cosmic Wisdom subjects.
• Dr. T. Lobsang Rampa: Journey into Space (I): The first part of a detailed account by Dr. Rampa of a purported journey to another planet.

Courage of Detachment

The editorial, 'Courage of Detachment,' posits that achieving peaceful and undisturbed conditions, along with a brotherly attitude, requires turning inward to the 'inner man.' This inner self is described as the 'eternal trustee of virtues and all the higher things in life.' The article acknowledges the difficulty of maintaining this ideal amidst daily headlines of excitement or fear. It advises readers to remain positive by detaching from the negative, keeping active contact with the world but disengaging from what is not of one's true nature. Readers are encouraged to be independent, compassionate, trust their intuition, and serve their fellow men, recognizing that only the body can be crushed, while the spirit endures.

Night Session Dialogue

This section explores the nature of questions and inner growth, suggesting that a steady progression in development is achieved by continuous questioning. It addresses a reader's query about Dr. Rampa's claim of being a Tibetan who took over a new body. The dialogue explains that this is possible for those who understand and master the natural laws involved, drawing parallels to learning to ride a bicycle. It references an authentic passage from a 77-year-old Tibetan text describing an adept's ability to choose new bodies during life. The conversation also touches upon the respect for Tibetans as preservers of higher knowledge and their connection to 'Brothers from space.' A question about a mechanistic outlook on the universe is answered by emphasizing that universal nature is richer than human classification, and that even structured learning processes are not purely mechanistic.

Space Ship Field News

This section reports on several UFO-related events. The editor's brother, Rolf Sievers, observed a strange craft with three portholes and a luminous 'airtail' near Lichtenburg, South Africa, noting its speed and silence. Another sighting involved a silvery, round disc hovering over picnickers near Swakopmund, South West Africa, for 15 minutes. The 'UFO News Stand' column mentions publications from the Interplanetary Foundation, the 'Fl.Saucer Review,' and 'UFO Investigator.' It highlights a report of a voice from a spaceship speaking to people in Japan and quotes a letter from the USA Joint Chiefs of Staff to NICAP stating that no effective communication means have been developed for unknown aerial objects.

A Point, a Theme and my Angle

This brief section announces that the winner of a 80-word competition on 'What are you hoping for when you look up into the sky?!' will be announced next month. It also mentions that the 'levitator ray' used by 'our Brothers' (presumably extraterrestrials) for overcoming gravity seems to be a concept pursued in Western countries.

APPROACH's Book Order Service

An enclosed book list is presented for readers in the Africa Region, featuring titles on UFO, Space, and Cosmic Wisdom. It notes that prices may be higher and delivery times longer for US-published books. A single copy of the German edition of "Flying Saucers Have Landed" is available for 24/-. The service aims to benefit APPROACH's publication fund.

Dr. T. Lobsang Rampa: Journey into Space (I)

This is the first installment of a narrative by Dr. T. Lobsang Rampa, introduced as an author of 'The Third Eye.' The article expresses conviction in Rampa's claims and presents his account of a journey beyond Earth. The narrative begins with Rampa, his teacher Lama Mingyar Dondup, and three companions resting in the Hidden Valley after a journey from Lhasa. They are called by 'Brothers from space' to a spaceship base in the Chang Tang Highlands. Rampa describes being guided by a being called the 'Broad One' onto a spaceship, which uses an 'antigravity beam' for ascent. Inside, they are served a meal of fruits and pastes from other planets. The journey to Venus is described, with views of Earth from space, including the auroral display. They approach a world covered in clouds, with fairy cities and ethereal structures, illuminated by a pervasive, pure light. The narrative concludes with the approach to a beautiful sparkling sea, hinting at further exploration in the next issue.

Additional Notes and Reports

• A report from Felix Schmidt's 'Spiritual Life' (Dec 1956) is cited, detailing an event in Nampa, Idaho, where a flying disc descended, and a bull was levitated into it. The article speculates on the scientific purpose of such interactions, suggesting interplanetary scientists might be interested in the effects of radiation on animal reproductive glands.
• The publication details are provided at the end of page 6: Published for Edgar Sievers by Sagittarius Publishers (P.O. Box 1953) and duplicated by Hennie's Secretarial Services (Pty) Ltd., all of 516, Merino Building, Pretoria, South Africa. The issue date is also reiterated as Approach - July, 1958.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the importance of inner spiritual development ('inner man,' detachment, peace, brotherhood) and the exploration of extraterrestrial phenomena (UFO sightings, space travel, alien contact). The editorial stance appears to be open-minded and supportive of unconventional ideas, particularly those presented by figures like Dr. Lobsang Rampa, whom they believe to be truthful. There is a clear interest in bridging the gap between spiritual wisdom and scientific inquiry, with a focus on the potential for advanced civilizations and cosmic understanding to enlighten humanity.