See also: Joel's Spiritual Orders on this site.
This communication was sent just weeks before Joel left the earth. It went to the thousands of students and their teachers around the world Letter to Norman Stachan (at the time in charge of the work in New Zealand) - April 10, 1964 This letter was sent to Joel's teachers and practitioners and submitted into the public record in 1984 as evidence in the lawsuit Lorraine Sinkler brought against Emma Goldsmith. It is complete and original.
Dear Norman,
It is indeed a joy to have this letter from you today, and of course I know that there could be a continuing fruitage in your activity, because inherently you have the consciousness that heals and draws to you those who can be comforted, healed, supplied, companioned. No, there will be no tapes of anyone other than myself, and this is the strictest rule that I have laid down for this work, that there will be no tapes of any teacher other than myself, and one thing that is assured by this is that whatever messages are taped, students can rely on as coming from the Source. While of course I know that this would likewise be true if Lorraine’s were taped, but the difficulty is that once one individual is permitted to tape an Infinite Way message, there will be no way of stopping the next dozen, and then, of course, what would become of the message is the same that has happened to Christianity, to Buddhism, to Taoism, and to all teachings where others have advanced their particular concepts of the Master’s revelations.
The principles of the Infinite Way and the consciousness behind those principles have proven themselves now for so many years and in so many parts of the world that there can be no question as to their authenticity and integrity and power. Then why not stick with the message as it is, since no one can complain of any lack of material. I believe that twenty-six of my books and about a dozen booklets are being published in England, a Monthly Letter is sent out from there, and for those who can make a very small contribution to pay their costs and postage, there is a weekly article, one of which I am herewith enclosing, available to those students who desire them, or even better than this, you in New Zealand, or Joyce in Australia can have my permission to have these reproduced, as long as I can be assured that they will be properly proofed, and you can distribute them in New Zealand and Australia for as little as it costs you to produce them down there, and with no obligation to me whatsoever. In other words, our students here in the States receive these from Mrs. Mary Newall, and they pay her the cost of her reproducing, mailing, postage, and so forth, but none of this is for me, since I am happy for the students to have it in this way. If you would like to write to Mrs. Mary Newall, 2231 Ala Wai Blvd., Honolulu, Hawaii, and have her send you copies of these, you could reproduce them for as many students down there as would like them, and charge them whatever you feel right to cover their cost. With all of this material available, and more and more books being published all of the time, I am sure there is a sufficiency for the needs of the students.
Above all things, I would like it understood among all students that no one can rise high enough in the message of The Infinite Way as to receive permission to publish Infinite Way material in any form. The Monthly Letter being published by Mrs. Eileen Bowden, 1270 Roslyn Road, Victoria, B.C., Canada, for parents, grandparents and teenagers, is an exception to this rule because Eileen has been a student of mine since 1949, has been in class with me months, and months, and months every year, in every part of the United States, and even was in England to help start the tape work there in the very beginning. And since she permits me to edit her Letters before publication, this exception has been made. In addition to this, there is a seventeen-week strenuous Study Course now published, but not yet announced to our students, because only a few can be handled at a time, which is published by our Lorene McClintock, but also was formulated under my jurisdiction. I am really trying to keep the message of The Infinite Way pure and completely free of concepts of others, so that those who receive it now or in the future may be assured that the message they are receiving is from the Source and the Fount."
Aloha greetings, Joel
(You will notice names in the letter above listed in another section of the website under those who make tapes. Our only conclusion is that they were tempted by error, as we all continue to be. We remember that those higher on the path are tempted most. Let us forgive and bless.) Here are some teachers who did not publish or tape: Shugamora, Glen, Howe, Kuys, Marshall, Koehler, Hoff
And so, the "teachers" went on to tape and make materials to compete with Joel's for the students' time and money. They went on to battle in court and leave a trail of error grand enough for all of us to learn from.
We will trust each student to determine for themselves what Joel meant, whether it was inspired, why he would have asked this of his teachers shortly before he knew the message was complete. Further, each will have to decide why the teachers themselves would be so intent on going against his wishes. At least we have the facts to share with you.
To accuse Joel of being authoritarian and dogmatic is a stunning attack which needs no defense for those who understand Joel, what he came to do and what his message gives us.
Joyce Burns Glen was one of the only original teachers whose historic protests exist as proof that there were some who wanted the office to support the letter to Norman and stop the taping. Here are her letters:
Joyce Burns Glen
31 Carlotta Road
Double Bay, Sydney, N.S.W. 2025
Telephone: 36-2237
October 17, 1971
"Dearest Emma,
"You will be getting itchy feet from home now! What a fabulous trip you've had, so many new places to see in South Africa etc.
I meant to give you this letter from Joel to Norman, written in 1964. Norman had asked Joel if there would be tapes made of Lorraine's work in London that year and this was the reply.* " [See Letter to Norman below.]
Emma, we all appreciate the wonderful work you do. I hope you can have a quiet Christmas at home with the family.
Very much love from us all,
Joyce [Burns Glen]
*"Irene is now playing Virginia's tapes to the Melbourne students. Emma, what will happen to the sale of Joel's tapes and writings if all the teachers start making tapes and writing pamphlets and books? I can't help feeling concerned about it, which is why I am enclosing this letter from Joel to Norman for you to have."
Joyce Burns Glen
31 Carlotta Road
Double Bay, Sydney, N.S.W. 2025
Telephone: 36-2237
August 12, 1975
My dear Geri,
Thanks so much for your note just arrived.
Here is another copy of Joel's letter of April 10, 1964 to Norman Strachan, then in charge of the work in New Zealand.
We out here in Australia and New Zealand feel that this is a vital time, as so many students are being misdirected. We do wish dear Emma would put something in the ACROSS THE DESK as regards Joel's wishes re this matter of the teachers and others making their own tapes - maybe an excerpt from Norman's letter, liked marked copy enclosed too.
The purpose of this letter of Joel's is to keep the Infinite Way message unadulterated in its pure Essence. When he wrote it, he was under spiritual orders.
Freedom is a passion of The Infinite Way, but it doesn't mean a free for all. Of course, everyone is free to write or make tapes of their own, or write books, BUT NOT UNDER THE BANNER OF THE INFINITE WAY.
Much love always,
Joyce
Written to Emma Goldsmith, August 26, 1975
"I have read Joel's letter to Norman very carefully and I do not feel that including that in the monthly Letter is in the best interests of The Infinite Way, nor can I agree with Joyce that when Joel wrote it "he was under spiritual orders." If that were the case, then all Joel's writings and talk about spiritual freedom are a farce.
"...I cannot go along with broadcasting any such dogmatic statement to the world through the monthly Letter. To do that would make the Infinite Way more authoritarian than Christian Science or Catholicism, both of which many persons left to follow The Infinite Way for that very reason.
"...We cannot stop individual unfoldment, and our safest course is to follow the principle of resist not. Then whatever is of God will survive and what is not will fade away, but regardless of what happens it cannot take our good away from us or stop the onward march of The Infinite Way. "
Lorraine Sinkler
From 1981 Pasadena Closed Class
"Let Freedom Ring"
"Now, that letter [to Norman], which is dated April 10, 1964, I knew about and was given a copy of back in, oh, about 1975, and at the same time Mrs. Goldsmith and Mrs. McDonald received a Xerox copy of that letter, although at that time and prior to that time Mrs. Goldsmith had traveled with me around the world, to Australia three times, I think, and to Europe three times, during which time I made recordings, and there was no objection to the makings of those recordings. It is true, I did not release them until 1978.
"I waited a long time, but I was well aware of that letter and I know some of you are thinking, "How did you dare to do that when you had that letter?"
"But, you see, I had a wonderful teacher. I had a teacher who taught me the real meaning of The Infinite Way, who taught me that there is no authority except the authority of your own inner consciousness.
"I was so well taught that I couldn't be fooled by such a letter.
"When the impetus came from within that these tapes should be released to the public, I had not hesitancy to do it, and I did not ask the permission of any person.
"It is interesting to note, too, that prior to December 1981, there are other teachers of The Infinite way who have also released their tapes. But this letter [to Norman] never surfaced, even though they know about it, until this December."
As we read the above, we see a woman who feels that she has gone beyond her teacher and no longer considers him the REVELATOR of the Infinite Way. The Infinite Way is re-defined as whatever we, individually, think it is. Unfortunately, she is not alone. Most of the first generation of teachers had to teach the same lesson in order to answer for their disobedience to Joel about making/selling tapes and books. It also appears that Lorraine took the compliment Joel gave her in his letter as the license to be an exception to his wishes. He clearly indicates THE ONLY exceptions were Lorene's Outline and Eileen's Children lessons. Sadly, this might have been irritating to Lorraine's ego.
As the message was passed on to these and other teachers, many of us are left with a legacy of Infinite Way students who have been incorrectly taught and who refuse to accept Joel's teachings, mix many schools of thought, no longer meditate and do not heal.
It is a legacy that we can change with prayer/meditation, Joel's tapes and books and a deep understanding of the Nature of Error. I hope you will join us.
Since Eileen Bowdin is gone, Lorraine is gone, Lorene McClintock has passed, Virginia (and Son) are the only rebels left. Much of the student support for these teachers and their work comes from a loyalty to their personalities and thus, an excusing of their disobedience to Joel. All any of them would have had to do was substitute Joel's tapes for their own and abandon their writings called Infinite Way. Today this is still a possibility for John and Virginia. We continue to hold out hope that they will return to the correct teaching of the message. However, the letter below reflects their position at this time.
John Stephenson wrote this letter in response to a question about his tapes. In all fairness, the Stephenson family calls their personal teaching ALOHA MYSTICS. Thus, we see that they have separated themselves from The Infinite Way and are now their own philosophy. They continue to try to give the impression that they are The Infinite Way, but this is the teaching they abandoned for their ALOHA MYSTICS by their taping and publication. If they are not able to see this, at least we are. We bless them and their followers, release them, and send them on their path with love and forgiveness.
"Dear.....,
"I talked to my mother about Norman. I hadn’t heard the story, but I guess Norman, a student from New Zealand, was making commentaries on Joel’s talks, and was putting those commentaries on tape. Joel didn’t like that and asked him to stop. You might want to contact Denise Jutrus for more information on what Norman did (I think he made some kind of index or study guide) and his correspondence with Joel.
[Mystics of the World have an expensive, complicated, un-useful tape index from Norman Lawrence, this is a different student.]
"Joel asked the original five teachers onto the platform, and supported them in their teaching work. He wanted them to express the Infinite Way principles in their own voice, and strongly felt that if they had the consciousness they would succeed. If not they would fall by the wayside. He always said that the message wasn’t his; it was the universal Christ message coming to this age. When he made his transition in London, Lorraine Sinkler finished his lecture tour, and since that time many teacher have come forth to present the Infinite Way message.
"Over the years, most of the original teachers began to make their classes available on tape. In Virginia’s case, it was with Emma Goldsmith’s permission and support. It was also because the students wanted them to study. But Virginia gave Infinite Way classes all over the world for 14 years after Joel’s passing before she began publishing tapes.
[Lorraine was the first to tape record in 1966 - Joel left in 1964.]
"I think it’s a rather narrow interpretation to think that Joel wanted no one to make tapes but him. He obviously didn’t want Norman to make tapes, and none of the teachers made tapes while Joel was alive. But the spirit and thrust of his message is one of freedom – no organization, no rules; everyone is free to succeed or fail according to their demonstration of spiritual principles.
[The point of the Letter to Norman is that no teacher is to TEACH THE INFINITE WAY without Joel's materials exclusively. If teachers have their own "voice", they need to begin their own teaching work with a different name....such as Aloha Mystics. This is then may clearly be understood to be a different teaching from Joel's Infinite Way. The point of the letter.]
"Thanks for asking this. It brought something to my attention that I hadn’t been aware of.
"Aloha,
"John"
