Is the New Era coming?

Alongside the idea that the end of the world is near, another notion — perhaps somewhat less widespread but still popular — is that a New Era is approaching. Sometimes these ideas are intertwined, with the latter seen as a direct continuation of the former. This is characteristic of religions and mythologies that contain an eschatological element, predicting an ultimate battle between the forces of Good and Evil, marking the end of the world. Naturally, the forces of Good are expected to triumph, and only then will an era of universal peace and prosperity, a paradise on Earth, begin. Another version involves a global catastrophe or a series of disasters, after which renewal and well-being will follow.

Other, less dramatic variations are primarily found in various neo-cults, modern spiritual and near-spiritual movements. These versions lack strong conceptual foundations but offer a broader range of scenarios. They include the arrival of great spiritual Teachers sent by some super-worldly authorities or hierarchies like the mysterious White Brotherhood, an evolutionary catharsis that will elevate humanity to a new level of development, the advent of the Age of Aquarius, ushering in a new cosmic cycle and transforming humanity, the transition of Earth to another universal plane, or even the arrival of extraterrestrials who will change our way of life. The variations are many, but the essence is the same: something is expected to occur that will sharply elevate the spiritual level of people, ultimately turning our world into that same paradise — whether more or less mystical in nature.

These hopes can be viewed in different ways. One could, for instance, mock them as expressions of the eternal dream of the greedy and lazy commoner — wanting the highest blessings to fall into their hands effortlessly, simply because the time has come or because someone has decided to grant them. From this perspective, such expectations appear as the spiritual equivalent of a consumerist mindset: “I deserve better, and I want to receive it — preferably without any effort.” This could be called “spiritual acquisitiveness”. A paradox emerges: the desire to attain the highest spiritual blessings through a spiritually dependent approach — one that does not cultivate, but rather corrupts. What more is there to say? If those who seek spiritual progress in this way could steal the highest spiritual achievements, they undoubtedly would.

Another possible interpretation is that these expectations stem from deep pessimism and a lack of faith in one’s own strength. A spiritual leap must occur because natural universal processes will lead to it, or because someone wise and powerful will come and arrange everything — not because of humanity’s own efforts. Of course, human efforts may play a role, but only as a secondary factor. As in: “If you’re being led somewhere, you have to move your feet.” This is less ironic and more pitiful, even frustrating. After all, can a society with such attitudes achieve anything serious?

Neither of the above interpretations is particularly inspiring. Each reflects certain negative aspects of human nature, even though, at first glance, they may seem otherwise. On the surface, they appear to be noble spiritual aspirations, a desire for renewal — on a global scale — to become better, more perfect, and to achieve harmony with the higher universal principles. But desire is one thing, reality is another. Expecting that a universal switch will suddenly be flipped, setting everything right, is just another form of humanity’s eternal dream — that something or someone will arrive and quickly transform the world and people for the better. The same old dream, repackaged in a modern form, sometimes even claiming a scientific basis. And sometimes so ultra-modern that it appears futuristic. But in reality, nothing suggests that this dream is founded on anything substantial.

So does this mean the New Era will not come, that there will be no renewal, no spiritual leap? Will humanity remain forever in the state of spiritual and moral decline that we see around us, a decline that is worsening and, as is easy to predict, can only lead to a disastrous outcome?

Yes, there will be no spiritual leap by the wave of some higher power’s hand or the flick of a cosmic switch. But neither will humanity remain in a state of decline. Because the Dawn Epoch is beginning.

This concept belongs to the Teaching of the United Temple, and it is not just another version of the New Era prophecy. Dawn Epoch is the name given to our time by Emere, the God of Wisdom, who grants the Teaching to humanity. The essence is that positive change on a global human and planetary scale will occur — but it will not happen suddenly, and it will be accomplished by humanity itself. Though not without help. Here, it is useful to recall an old parable about how best to feed the hungry. One can give them a fish, or one can teach them to fish. That is, it is one thing when someone solves your problem for you, and quite another when they only help you solve it yourself.

So it is with the Teaching. It is given to people as assistance on their path, as the foundation of a science that they must develop and deepen on their own, as a method that they must learn to work with. It is a guiding path. Imagine a traveler on a journey. They receive help — but not in the form of some force carrying them to their destination. Instead, they are shown the right direction, given landmarks, and handed a staff to lean on. And they must travel the path themselves, bruising their feet, enduring hunger and thirst, heat and cold, struggling through forests and swamps, crossing deserts, climbing mountains, and swimming across rivers. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous. But they will reach their goal as someone who has seen much, grown stronger, more patient, and wiser than when they started. And their achievement will be hard-earned and well-deserved.

By this analogy, the Teaching is given to humanity as a support in its movement towards the goal — but not as something that will do the work for it. A sudden transformation for the better should not be expected. On the contrary: many challenges, hardships, and dangers lie ahead. The negative tendencies of modern humanity will not disappear without a fight. There will be no rapid ascent on the wave of global changes beyond human control. There will be hard and persistent work, a struggle against the worst aspects of human nature and the negative societal phenomena they produce. In the end, people will create the New Era themselves. They will be its architects.

The New Era has not yet arrived. It is pointless to expect it now. But it will come in the future. One would like to say “in the near future”, but that would be too optimistic. Global changes require global efforts. And these efforts are only just beginning. The sun has barely risen above the horizon, and the darkness is dispersing slowly. The morning will be long. But the day will come inevitably — because nothing can stop the Sun on its path to the zenith.

For now, let us set aside untimely talks of a New Era. Welcome to the Dawn Epoch.

© Atarkhat, 2016