Revelations of Awareness

Magazine Overview

Title: Revelations of Awareness
Issue: 80-11
Date: Copyright 1980 (issue date inferred as 1980)
Publisher: Cosmic Awareness Communications
Country: USA
Price: $2.00

This issue of 'Revelations of Awareness,' a cosmic newsletter published by Cosmic Awareness Communications, delves into spiritual concepts, particularly focusing on the entity Meher Baba and the nature of avatars and divine consciousness. The cover features a prominent image of Meher Baba with the phrases "DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY" and "MEHER BABA LOVES YOU," alongside the magazine's title and a subtitle indicating it is "The Philosophical Foundation on which the New Age is being built."

Cosmic Awareness Communications and its Role

The publication explains that "COSMIC AWARENESS is the Force that expressed Itself through Jesus of Nazareth, the Buddha, Krishna, Mohammed, Edgar Cayce and other great avatars." It states that since 1963, Cosmic Awareness has communicated through trained channels, with the information received from "deep super-conscious trance levels" and interpreted by an entity affiliated with C.A.C. The information is presented for those who wish to help bring in the New Age. A disclaimer notes that Cosmic Awareness encourages questioning and self-discovery, and neither C.A.C., the Aquarian Church of Universal Service, nor the interpreter, Paul Shockley, are responsible for the content or necessarily agree with the statements made. Paul Shockley is identified as the Trance-Interpreter.

Meher Baba: An Avatar or a Channel?

The issue addresses a question from J.T. of Elizabeth, N.J., regarding Merwan Sherier Irani, later known as Meher Baba, who was born in Puna, India, on February 25, 1894. Meher Baba claimed to be the avatar of this age, or God himself, and stated that in previous lives he was Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, and Mohammed. The question asks for Cosmic Awareness's commentary on this and Baba's caliber, why his books were not recommended by this channel, and when his book containing secrets of the Universe would be released.

Cosmic Awareness responds by indicating that Meher Baba tuned into higher realms of consciousness and experienced vibrations of past entities. However, it suggests that Meher Baba made a mistake in thinking that because he experienced these levels, he was a reincarnation of them. The response explains that this identification is similar to transpersonative experience, where an entity's astral body enters another's energies. While Meher Baba reached a high state of consciousness and had a significant effect, Cosmic Awareness states he was "somewhat self-centered" and "believed and fell for the problem of self and messiahism." The entity is described as having "fooled himself along with his followers" by claiming to be the reincarnation of all those entities and implying he was God come down to Earth.

Cosmic Awareness clarifies that Jesus was a channel for the Spirit of God, not God himself. Similarly, Meher Baba was a channel. The publication asserts that every entity contains the Spirit of God and can make that claim, as this "God-Cell" permeates all living things and is available to all entities to express and channel.

The Message vs. The Messenger

The newsletter emphasizes the shift in the New Age towards the message being paramount, rather than the person or personality of the channel. Channels are described as vessels or tools through which the Spirit may move and do not need to be worshipped or given excessive praise. The analogy of watering a garden is used: the water is the Spirit, and the hose is the channel. It is crucial not to confuse the hose with the water, or the channel with the message. The publication warns that if an entity becomes confused with the Spirit and believes the hose is the message, Spirit, or God, it can lead to confusion for the masses.

Regarding Meher Baba's messages, the newsletter advises studying them for valuable insights that can be applied to one's life, but to ignore his claims of being supreme or the only messiah. Such claims are seen as coming from the channel's ego rather than the Spirit of the Divine Universe, which favors all entities equally. The text states that if Meher Baba were exclusively God, the universe would disappear with his death, underscoring that the Spirit of the Universe is far greater than any mortal claims.

Cosmic Awareness suggests that Meher Baba had much valuable information, but his claims of being God were a result of vanity and pride during a period of spiritual weakness. The statement, "When I break my silence, the world will be shaken into the realization of who I am," is affirmed as correct in explaining this aspect of his self-perception.

Other Questions and Closing Message

The issue also briefly touches upon the concept of reincarnation and the necessity of a living master or initiation. Cosmic Awareness poses the question, "What is there that is not alive?" and implies that there are many experiences on other planes and many unrecognized saints and initiations that come about from situations rather than solely individual effort. The concept of needing a living master is dismissed as "simply out of the question."

The closing message focuses on finding harmony by accepting oneself, one's beliefs, associations, world, and purposes. It suggests that the greatest hindrance to harmony is the anxious feeling of needing to fight against something. The greatest method for finding harmony is self-acceptance, followed by taking small steps to change desires with faith, relaxation, and harmony, without the feeling of needing to fight.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of divinity, the role of spiritual leaders and channels, the importance of distinguishing between the message and the messenger, and the path to spiritual harmony. The editorial stance, as conveyed through Cosmic Awareness, is one of critical discernment, encouraging followers to question claims of exclusive divinity and to focus on the underlying spiritual message rather than the personality of the channel. There is a strong emphasis on the inherent divinity within all beings and the availability of the Spirit of God to everyone. The publication advocates for self-acceptance and a harmonious approach to personal growth and change.