Circle of Christhood

From Aloha Mystics: "John Stephenson sat at the feet of his spiritual teacher, Joel Goldsmith, when he was fifteen years old. John's first Infinite Way class was in Hawaii at the Princess Kaiulani Hotel in 1962. After that class he went to Maui with a small group for further classes with Joel. On Maui, John had a spiritual experience in class that set his destiny in the spiritual field. He moved to the Islands to attend the University of Hawaii, graduating with a degree in Fine Arts, but more importantly he was included in the inner circle that regularly studied with Joel. John's consciousness was developed at that time and is now a transparency for continuing the mystical message of the Infinite Way. The spiritual bond that formed between John and Joel continues on in the Infinite Invisible realm of Consicousness."

This new biography leads us to assume that John Stephenson became a prodigy of Joel Goldsmith at the age of 15.  Previous accounts stated that John was surfing in Hawaii and Joel came to a small birthday party his mother had arranged for him with her friends. Joel merely stopped by. This new statement gives us some interesting information and it is hoped that discerning students ask John questions about the implications.

Let's consider what John states:   John was 15 in 1962?  This means he was 16 in 1963, 17 in 1964.  When did he graduate high school? We will assume at 18 like most students.  His mother, Virginia, ran the center in Santa Monica, California and one should assume that he lived in Santa Monica with her during high school.  When did he have his mentoring sessions with Joel?

When he "moved to the Islands to attend the University of Hawaii", where did he move from?  We need to confirm that he went to high school on the mainland, Santa Monica. Thus, in 1964 he could not be in residence in Hawaii. Perhaps he came on holiday.  How often were they able to travel to Hawaii?  Joel traveled most of 1963 and was only with us for half of 1964. Thus, we really need to clarify when, exactly, John received his instructions from Joel.

The next concern is: How much time did Joel give to a 15 year old? Were they private classes?  How many, when? What lessons were covered. These are fascinating topics and much of this is new information. Surely many students would like more on this topic.

John implies that as a 15 year old, he was included in the intimate, private group of mature, experience teachers and practitioners like Lorraine Sinkler, Will Hoff, Daisy Shugamura, Emma, Eileen Bowdin?  How was he able to join this group ( ages 35-45 and older) of students if he was not a healer?  These teachers were also all practitioners.

What was the "inner circle", exactly?    Who was in the "inner circle"?

Why did John claim not to know about "The Letter to Norman" if he was a close "inner circle" member in 1964? Every student and teacher at the time received this letter. Every person who got The Monthly Letter knew about Joel's wishes.  If Joel was, indeed, as we are to assume, personally training John for his ministry, why did he not give him this instruction personally? Lorraine knew about it, Virginia did too (she never told John - according to John).

One thing that is very important is an explanation about how it is possible to be a teacher of The Infinite Way, which according to Joel requires the ability to IMPART consciousness, Christ Consciousness, the HEALING consciousness, and NOT heal?  What does John teach,  if not that consciousness and the healing that comes with it?  For a teacher to say that they can teach the principles of The Infinite Way and not heal is an oxymoron.

John implies that his consciousness was "developed by Joel." How can it not be a HEALING consciousness?  Was it once a healing consciousness and now is no longer? Did John's consciousness change? This can happen if the teacher is tempted and falls, (the usual, ego, money, power, lust).

There are so many questions that come to mind when one tries to imagine a young teen-age surfer entering the sacred, intimate classes of Joel's close teachers from around the world. Perhaps, a boy can sit in a large open class of several hundreds of students, or closed classes with 50 to 100 students and not be noticed. But, to state that a mere boy was selected for this work by Joel as a teen-ager and no mention was ever made about it by Joel, begs many questions.

John suggests that he and Joel have a spiritual bond in the Infinite Invisible realm. (An interesting personalization for a teacher. It is reminiscent of many religionists.)  The most important question presents itself now:  How is it possible to commune with Joel's consciousness and use this bond as a validation for teaching, when clearly the teacher is going against Joel's specific instructions to NOT MAKE TAPES?  How do we believe that Joel approves of John's work when he and his mother sell tapes and books as Infinite Way, but they were not created by Joel? This defies logic.  Can we claim spiritual authority when we defy the sacred prophet and disregard his explicit instructions to use only his tapes and books?  Joel tells us, "if a teacher lies, he looses his power."

John claims that he still communes with Joel's consciousness, but please remember:  WE ALL CAN DO THE SAME THING,  if we want it.   If we wish to commune with Joel's consciousness, it is available to ANY OF US in meditation. The Infinite Way is a personal message of freedom. We do not need to access Joel through anyone else.

Joel made us all this promise: We are ONE in Christ.  And so we are one with John and hope that some day he will begin to practice the principles he teaches. These appearances are just error, they have no power - we nothingize and impersonalize.  Amen.