- “The Hierarchy” (often also called the Spiritual Hierarchy, the Hierarchy of Masters, the Great White Lodge, or simply the Hierarchy of the Planet) is, in Alice A. Bailey’s corpus, the organized body of advanced spiritual beings and their inner groups who actively guide the spiritual evolution of humanity and the planet.
- They work through ashrams, rays, initiations and contact with disciples to influence the direction of human consciousness and civilisation.
THE LOVE OF GOD
HIERARCHY
1. Definition
- Humanity, the Hierarchy, and Shamballa are three great planetary centers:
1. Humanity – the center of intelligence.
2. Hierarchy – the center of love-wisdom.
3. Shamballa – the center of will and purpose.
- Their progressive alignment is part of the unfolding planetary plan.
2. Source, method and authority in Bailey’s account
- Shamballa radiates the energy of divine will (the first ray). This force is impersonal, powerful, and potentially destructive if wrongly used.
- It is the origin of the impulse toward synthesis, initiation, and new evolutionary stages.
- In human history, its impacts have been rare but decisive (e.g., major spiritual crises and world shifts).
3. Composition — who belongs to the Hierarchy?
- True contact with Shamballa becomes possible only at higher stages of initiation (the third and above). It requires alignment of the will with divine purpose, not just love or service.
- The Shamballa force tests motives and destroys crystallized forms so that new expressions of truth can emerge.
4. Structural ideas Bailey uses (language & metaphors)
- Shamballa embodies the planetary Purpose, while the Hierarchy works with the Plan (the Purpose expressed in time and space).
- Aspirants and disciples gradually move from working with the Plan to aligning with Purpose, a shift made possible by Shamballa’s influence.
5. The sevenfold and ray frameworks (how the Hierarchy organises work)
- Shamballa energy was first directly released to humanity during the time of Atlantis (leading to crisis and destruction).
- More recently in the 20th century, precipitating both conflict and opportunities for spiritual advancement.
6. The Hierarchy’s functions and activities (what they actually do)
- Shamballa is the highest planetary spiritual center, embodying divine will and purpose. It is the abode of Sanat Kumara, the “Lord of the World.”
- Contact with Shamballa represents alignment with the will of God, beyond love and intelligence, and marks the evolutionary step of advanced initiates.
7. Initiation and discipleship as a hierarchical process
- Shamballa is the highest planetary spiritual center, embodying divine will and purpose. It is the abode of Sanat Kumara, the “Lord of the World.”
- Contact with Shamballa represents alignment with the will of God, beyond love and intelligence, and marks the evolutionary step of advanced initiates.
8. Geography (etheric locations, “places” of the Hierarchy)
- Shamballa is the highest planetary spiritual center, embodying divine will and purpose. It is the abode of Sanat Kumara, the “Lord of the World.”
- Contact with Shamballa represents alignment with the will of God, beyond love and intelligence, and marks the evolutionary step of advanced initiates.
9. The “Externalisation of the Hierarchy” — a key Bailey theme
- Shamballa is the highest planetary spiritual center, embodying divine will and purpose. It is the abode of Sanat Kumara, the “Lord of the World.”
- Contact with Shamballa represents alignment with the will of God, beyond love and intelligence, and marks the evolutionary step of advanced initiates.
10. Relation to religion, politics and culture
- Shamballa is the highest planetary spiritual center, embodying divine will and purpose. It is the abode of Sanat Kumara, the “Lord of the World.”
- Contact with Shamballa represents alignment with the will of God, beyond love and intelligence, and marks the evolutionary step of advanced initiates.
11. Practical implications in Bailey’s system — what disciples are asked to do
- Shamballa is the highest planetary spiritual center, embodying divine will and purpose. It is the abode of Sanat Kumara, the “Lord of the World.”
- Contact with Shamballa represents alignment with the will of God, beyond love and intelligence, and marks the evolutionary step of advanced initiates.
12. Key textual loci in Bailey’s corpus (books to read for the Hierarchy) do
- Shamballa is the highest planetary spiritual center, embodying divine will and purpose. It is the abode of Sanat Kumara, the “Lord of the World.”
- Contact with Shamballa represents alignment with the will of God, beyond love and intelligence, and marks the evolutionary step of advanced initiates.
13. Historical & Theosophical context
- Shamballa is the highest planetary spiritual center, embodying divine will and purpose. It is the abode of Sanat Kumara, the “Lord of the World.”
- Contact with Shamballa represents alignment with the will of God, beyond love and intelligence, and marks the evolutionary step of advanced initiates.
14. How the Hierarchy is meant to be experienced (phenomenology)
- Shamballa is the highest planetary spiritual center, embodying divine will and purpose. It is the abode of Sanat Kumara, the “Lord of the World.”
- Contact with Shamballa represents alignment with the will of God, beyond love and intelligence, and marks the evolutionary step of advanced initiates.
15. How the Hierarchy is meant to be experienced (phenomenology)
- Shamballa is the highest planetary spiritual center, embodying divine will and purpose. It is the abode of Sanat Kumara, the “Lord of the World.”
- Contact with Shamballa represents alignment with the will of God, beyond love and intelligence, and marks the evolutionary step of advanced initiates.
16. Summary — the Hierarchy in one paragraph
